Benfica Portugal Cameroon Play-off World Cup

BTV HIGHLIGHTS

Historic achievement! The Women's National Team, with nine Benfica athletes in the squad, qualified for the World Cup for the first time. The feat was achieved this Wednesday, February 22, with the victory over Cameroon (2-1), in a match played in Hamilton (New Zealand).

In this intercontinental play-off final, Carole Costa, one of the five players from SL Benfica in the Starting XI, was decisive, after scoring the winning goal for the Portuguese national team in the stoppage period, when she converted a penalty kick.

Of the nine players, besides central defender Carole Costa, Catarina Amado (come off at 60' with physical complaints), Andreia Norton, Jéssica Silva and Francisca Nazareth were part of Francisco Neto's starting eleven.

Rute Costa, Ana Seiça, Sílvia Rebelo and Lúcia Alves were not used during the match, but celebrated win the rest of the delegation.

The achievement of the Portuguese class was promptly praised by President Rui Costa.

The World Cup will take place in Australia and New Zealand, between July 20 and August 20, 2023, and Portugal already knows its opponents.

The National Team is in group E, along with the Netherlands, Vietnam and the United States of America.

Portugal-Cameroon 2-1 Waikato
Portugal Starting XI
Patrícia Morais, Ana Borges, Carole Costa, Diana Gomes, Catarina Amado (Joana Marchão, 60'), Dolores Silva (Ana Capeta, 90'+5'), Andreia Norton (Fátima Pinto, 71'), Tatiana Pinto, Francisca Nazareth (Andreia Jacinto, 71'), Diana Silva and Jéssica Silva
Substitutes
Inês Pereira, Rute Costa, Sílvia Rebelo, Ana Seiça, Joana Marchão (60'), Lúcia Alves, Fátima Pinto (71'), Vanessa Marques, Andreia Jacinto (71'), Carolina Mendes, Ana Capeta (90'+5') and Telma Encarnação
Cameroon Starting XI
Catherine Biya, Estelle Johnson, Marie-Aurelle Awona (Michaela Abam, 66'), Claudia Dabda, Claudine Meffometou, Charlene Meyong (Geneviève Ngo Mbeleck, 66'), Jeannette Yango (Eliane Manbolamo, 90'+9'), Colette Ndzana, Monique Ngock, Ajara Nchout Njoya and Éliane Bibout (Gabrielle Onguéné, 49')
Substitutes
Marthe Ongmahan, Doudou Ousmanou, Eliane Manbolamo (90'+9'), Geneviève Ngo Mbeleck (66'), Brigitte Omboudou, Michaela Abam (66'), Tatiana Ekogo, Gabrielle Onguéné (49'), Catherine Mbengono and Brenda Tabe
At half-time		1-0
Refereeing team
Referee: Casey Reibelt (Australia); Assistants: Joanna Kate Charaktis and Mi-Suk Park; 4th official: Emikar Caldera Barrera; VAR: Tatiana Guzmán; AVAR: Carol Chénard
Goals
Portugal: Diana Gomes (22') e Carole Costa (90'+4' pk); Cameroon: Ajara Nchout Njoya (89')