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Spain thrash grieving Portugal in women's Euro clash

Spain thrash grieving Portugal in women's Euro clash

The Advertiser04-07-2025
Spain striker Esther Gonzalez scored twice in the first half as her side powered to a 5-0 win over Portugal at the women's Euros that was overshadowed by the deaths of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident.
On an emotional Thursday night that began with a minute's silence for the brothers, Portugal went behind almost immediately, Olga Carmona putting the ball over the top for Gonzalez to run on to and score in the second minute.
Mariona Caldentey did superbly to pull the ball across the box for Vicky Lopez to score the second goal five minutes later.
The Portuguese managed to steady the ship but they were rocked again four minutes before the break when Alexia Putellas took down another great pass from Caldentey on her chest before calmly cutting inside and firing home.
There was more misery to come for Portugal before halftime as Gonzalez netted her second two minutes later, scoring from close range after Claudia Pina's cross came back off the far post.
The Spaniards were delighted to be able to bring in Aitana Bonmati from the bench following her recent brush with viral meningitis, and the playmaker wasted no time getting into the thick of things, setting up a chance for Cristina Martin-Prieto.
Portugal showed more composure in the second half but they were no match for Spain's power, precision and technique and, though they held Spain at bay for most of the second half, Martin-Prieto scored with a superb late header to complete the rout.
With Italy having defeated Belgium 1-0 earlier in the evening, Spain top the group with the Italians second. Spain take on the Belgians in their next game, while Portugal face Italy.
The game may have ended 5-0 to Spain but it was undoubtedly the Portuguese fans who won the battle in the stands as they put aside their grief to instead display their passion for all the world to see.
"At this moment, we continue to depend only on ourselves and we will do everything, as long as it is so, to make the Portuguese proud," Portugal coach Francisco Neto told Sport TV.
"On the field, we were inferior to Spain - off the field, there is no doubt that we won by a landslide."
Spain striker Esther Gonzalez scored twice in the first half as her side powered to a 5-0 win over Portugal at the women's Euros that was overshadowed by the deaths of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident.
On an emotional Thursday night that began with a minute's silence for the brothers, Portugal went behind almost immediately, Olga Carmona putting the ball over the top for Gonzalez to run on to and score in the second minute.
Mariona Caldentey did superbly to pull the ball across the box for Vicky Lopez to score the second goal five minutes later.
The Portuguese managed to steady the ship but they were rocked again four minutes before the break when Alexia Putellas took down another great pass from Caldentey on her chest before calmly cutting inside and firing home.
There was more misery to come for Portugal before halftime as Gonzalez netted her second two minutes later, scoring from close range after Claudia Pina's cross came back off the far post.
The Spaniards were delighted to be able to bring in Aitana Bonmati from the bench following her recent brush with viral meningitis, and the playmaker wasted no time getting into the thick of things, setting up a chance for Cristina Martin-Prieto.
Portugal showed more composure in the second half but they were no match for Spain's power, precision and technique and, though they held Spain at bay for most of the second half, Martin-Prieto scored with a superb late header to complete the rout.
With Italy having defeated Belgium 1-0 earlier in the evening, Spain top the group with the Italians second. Spain take on the Belgians in their next game, while Portugal face Italy.
The game may have ended 5-0 to Spain but it was undoubtedly the Portuguese fans who won the battle in the stands as they put aside their grief to instead display their passion for all the world to see.
"At this moment, we continue to depend only on ourselves and we will do everything, as long as it is so, to make the Portuguese proud," Portugal coach Francisco Neto told Sport TV.
"On the field, we were inferior to Spain - off the field, there is no doubt that we won by a landslide."
Spain striker Esther Gonzalez scored twice in the first half as her side powered to a 5-0 win over Portugal at the women's Euros that was overshadowed by the deaths of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident.
On an emotional Thursday night that began with a minute's silence for the brothers, Portugal went behind almost immediately, Olga Carmona putting the ball over the top for Gonzalez to run on to and score in the second minute.
Mariona Caldentey did superbly to pull the ball across the box for Vicky Lopez to score the second goal five minutes later.
The Portuguese managed to steady the ship but they were rocked again four minutes before the break when Alexia Putellas took down another great pass from Caldentey on her chest before calmly cutting inside and firing home.
There was more misery to come for Portugal before halftime as Gonzalez netted her second two minutes later, scoring from close range after Claudia Pina's cross came back off the far post.
The Spaniards were delighted to be able to bring in Aitana Bonmati from the bench following her recent brush with viral meningitis, and the playmaker wasted no time getting into the thick of things, setting up a chance for Cristina Martin-Prieto.
Portugal showed more composure in the second half but they were no match for Spain's power, precision and technique and, though they held Spain at bay for most of the second half, Martin-Prieto scored with a superb late header to complete the rout.
With Italy having defeated Belgium 1-0 earlier in the evening, Spain top the group with the Italians second. Spain take on the Belgians in their next game, while Portugal face Italy.
The game may have ended 5-0 to Spain but it was undoubtedly the Portuguese fans who won the battle in the stands as they put aside their grief to instead display their passion for all the world to see.
"At this moment, we continue to depend only on ourselves and we will do everything, as long as it is so, to make the Portuguese proud," Portugal coach Francisco Neto told Sport TV.
"On the field, we were inferior to Spain - off the field, there is no doubt that we won by a landslide."
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