Hope for Portugal! Late Diana Gomes strike against Italy keeps knockout hopes alive with Spain through to quarter-finals

Portugal had more of the ball in the first half, but Italy created the better chances, including a 36th minute goal that was disallowed when Emma Severini turned in a rebound from an offside position. After failing to catch fire, the game was heading for a dull stalemate until Cristiana Girelli curled a superb effort into the top corner midway through the second half. That was the start of the drama.

Diana Silva had a would-be Portugal equaliser ruled out inside the final 10 minutes for a marginal offside, which followed an agonising VAR wait. But going behind lit a fire under Francisco Neto's team and the pressure built, with Carole Costa hitting the bar at a corner and Diana Gomes pouncing after Italy failed to clear. Italy still almost retook the lead before the end and Portugal finished with 10 players after Ana Borges was sent off in stoppage time.

After Portugal’s losing run in 2025 – four consecutive competitive defeats coming into the tournament – goalkeeper Patricia Morais found herself dropped for the opener against Spain. But she was reinstated here and the team reaped the rewards of her presence. Three saves in the first half stopped Italy building what would have been a deserved lead, while she came up with a huge close-range stop immediately after the Portuguese equaliser that effectively kept her country in the competition.

Portugal veteran Ana Borges will be suspended for the next game because of her late dismissal, following a second yellow card. With far from any guarantees that her team will get to the knockout phase, there is every chance this could have been her last appearance at a major tournament. The versatile national legend has more caps than any Portuguese woman but will be 37 by the time of the 2027 World Cup…if Portugal get there.

It's all to play for on matchday three in Group B on July 11. Portugal need to beat Belgium, who are point-less through two games so far, to have any chance of reaching the knockout rounds of a major tournament for the first time. Italy only require a point against a rampant Spain, which is a tall order. A Portuguese victory and an Italian defeat alone wouldn’t be enough for Portugal, with a swing of six in the goal difference also needed. But with Portugal buoyed by their comeback here and Spain utterly rampant in front of goal, it isn’t out of the question.