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Will Unwin’s match report from Leigh
Well, after a strange and often pedestrian first half the second was great fun. The Portuguese deserved the three points and will take heart from that display when they face the group’s two big-hitters, Netherlands and Sweden. Speaking of which, I’m going to turn my attention to that one now. You will be able to read Will Unwin’s match report for this game here very shortly. In the meantime, why not join me for the action at Bramall Lane.
Full-time: Portugal 2-2 Switzerland
What a second half by Portugal! A draw doesn’t suit either team and it seems strange to say that the Portuguese will be disappointed not to have won it despite being 2-0 down at half-time. They started to hurt the Swiss by passing in behind. If only they had done that earlier in the game.
90+5 min: The Swiss pump the ball into the box one last time. Pereira comes for it and misses but amid the throng a defender gets her goalkeeper out of jail.
90+4 min: Fatima Pinto wallops the ball out so that Amado can get some treatment. The Portugal full-back stretched as she tried to make a block and it looks like she has pulled something.
90+2 min: There will be five minutes of injury time, two of which are taken up by a couple of Swiss changes that I won’t list when there are only three minutes to go and plenty of Portuguese attacking to describe.
90 min: There are two more chances in quick succession, Encarnação stretching and missing a cross in the Gazza at Euro 96-style, before setting up Nazareth in the box. the youngster’s shot is blocked though. Portugal will feel they should have won this. What a second half they have had.
87 min: Encarnação is so close to winning it for Portugal, turning on the edge of the area and hammering a low shot at the bottom corner that slams against the post.
86 min: Kika Nazareth shows great strength to hold off two players and turn away to keep possession for Portugal. All these substitutions have changed the game. It’s hard to tell who might score next now. It’s very open though and thoroughly enjoyable.
84 min: Two chances in quick succession! Diana Silva, again, is free and eight yards out as a cross swings in towards her but she fails to connect properly and pulls up with cramp. Then Switzerland race down the other end, Sow swivelling in the box and firing a shot at the far post that Amado does brilliantly to hook wide with an outstretched toe.
82 min: Reuteler is booked for a late lunge on Tatiana Pinto. She is replaced by her namesake, Fatima Pinto. Jessica Silva, who has been a pesky menace this half, is taken off with Telma Encarnacao replacing her.
80 min: An attack from Switzerland. They win a corner that is cleared to Reuteler, who is lurking on the edge of the box. The Swiss midfielder watches it bounce and then loops a right-footed shot at goal that glances the bar. In such a strong group, a draw is no good to either team.
78 min: Diana Silva races through to get on the end of an inswinging free-kick but, 10 yards from goal, she neither heads nor volleys the ball at goal, watching it bounce off her chest and into the grateful arms of Thalmann.
77 min: Here we go! Borges, who has delivered some lovely crosses, is replaced by the 19-year-old wonderkid Kika Nazareth. She is only on the bench today as she has been recovering from tonsillitis. She is represented by Jorge Mendes, of all people.
76 min: Borges plays it deep, the ball looping over Thalmann where Kiwic clears. Diana Silva was lurking menacingly nearby.
75 min: Another corner for Portugal after Jessica Silva is sent scampering up the inside left channel by Dolores Silva.
73 min: The Swiss keeper is up on her feet but before the corner comes in Maendly is replaces by Marti, a left-sided midfielder. Maybe she will play more centrally. Or perhaps there will be a change of shape. The corner comes to nothing.
72 min: Diana Silva bursts down the right and wins another corner. Meanwhile, Thalmann has gone down. Switzerland are readying some changes but they weren’t banking on changing goalkeepers. She’ll require some treatment.
70 min: Dolores Silva curls it around the wall but Thalmann leaps to punch clear. It was a save she would have expected to make. Tell you what, though? Only one team looks like winning this now. That Portuguese drum is banging ferociously.
69 min: Two Swiss players lunge at Diana Silva on the edge of the box after some brilliantly intricate buildup play. Var check for a penalty. No dice but Calligaris is booked. I think it was Maritz who was the main culprit. Anyway, free-kick right on the 18-yard box. Dolores Silva stands over it …
67 min: What a turnaround. This Portugal team looks like the real deal. Now it’s the Swiss who look unsure of themselves at every touch.
Goal! Portugal 2-2 Switzerland (Jessica Silva 65)
They’re level! Pinto whips a vicious cross into the near post that Jessica Silva finishes with a beautiful swish of her right boot. It flies past Thalmann and into the far corner. Could they win this?
62 min: Portugal aren’t just passing around for fun anymore. They look threatening in possession, Norton forces another corner after Jessica Silva tried a rabona cross. That was unnecessary but entertaining showboating. The corner lands at Costa’s feet but she smashes over.
60 min: What was most striking about that goal is how bad Switzerland’s defending was. Gomes was unmarked when previously the Swiss defence have been first to everything, using their height advantage, too. Portugal are getting more joy on the flanks – and if they continue to win corners that the Swiss defend so badly, it’s a tactic to stick with.
Goal! Portugal 1-2 Switzerland (Gomes 59)
They’re back in it – and this has been coming. Borges curls an inswinging corner in to the six-yard box where the centre-back Gomes throws herself at it, heading at Thalmann and then following up to tuck home the rebound. Game on!
55 min: Portugal are enjoying greater possession in the final third now, which is an improvement on the first half when most of their possession was sterile. Diana Silva lifts a cross into the box that is cleared and then Borges wins a corner after trying to drive a low cross in from the right.
53 min: The Swiss show that while Portugal are in control of possession, they’re still a threat on the break as Bachman is sent scampering through on the inside-left channel. She drags a low shot a yard wide when she probably could have squared to Sow.
52 min: Carole Costa lofts a long ball into the inside-left channel for Jessica Silva. The forward brings the ball down deftly with two touches and then unleashes a right-footed shot at the top corner. It’s well over though. She rather rushed it after some good work initially.
51 min: Borges plays it low and to the near post. It looks like a dreadful corner but I suspect it’s a training ground move that her teammates didn’t react to.
49 min: Norton plays a lovely pass through two Swiss players to release Borges on the left. She is tracked diligently by Maritz and forced backwards but Portugal work the ball cleverly up the right and win a corner.
47 min: Maendly is down after being caught between two Portugal players when a ball popped loose in midfield. She’s soon up on her feet though. It seems she took a blow to the face.
The second half
45 min: Peep! There are no changes – and the Portugal Drumming Man is still at it.
The Guardian’s reporter in Leigh believes organisers could be doing a little more for the environment.
Obviously, the floodlights are on. Do Leigh not know the cost of energy nowadays?
— Will Unwin (@Will_Unwin) July 9, 2022
Half-time reading to get you in the mood for Netherlands v Sweden later.
Half-time: Portugal 0-2 Switzerland
Well, after the two goals not much has happened. Switzerland haven’t had to be gung-ho so have sat back and watched Portugal struggle to break them down. The Portuguese have been neat and tidy but they haven’t found a final ball and look small compared to the physically imposing Swiss team. Francisco Neto has some thinking to do at half-time. Will he bring the electric youngster Francisca Nazareth on? She could be a gamechanger.
44 min: Diana Silva tries to chest down to Jessica Silva to her right but they’re not on the same wavelength and the ball rolls out for a throw-in.