A one-sided final does not diminish the value of an outstanding campaign. Italy won a silver medal at the Mediterranean Games in the first edition of the women’s football tournament. The Azzurrine finished runners-up after losing the final to a powerful Portugal side, who secured a comfortable 4-0 win. Having finished second in the group, behind Portugal, and drawn 1-1 with them just two days earlier, Guerzoni and her teammates were unable to repeat that performance. They faced an unrecoverable deficit by half-time, with Portugal 3-0 ahead thanks to a brace from Rita Oliveira and a goal from Gonçalves Matos. Despite Italy’s attempts to get back into the game after the break, Portugal scored again to seal the win, this time through Vitorino.

BRUNELLI. General Secretary Marco Brunelli, who was in the stands at the Erasmo Iacovone, said: “The silver medal is something we cannot overlook; this has been a fundamental experience and is part of their growth as women and footballers. We won silver at the Mediterranean Games after a very positive campaign. It has been a good tournament: we are always there at various youth competitions, showcasing talented individuals and girls with great potential. Credit to Portugal, who deserved to win, but this really is an experience the girls will remember for the rest of their lives. They are young and have a great future ahead of them in our football. They will be very disappointed now, but from tomorrow onwards, they will remember the good part and add it to their CVs. Congratulations to them and to the staff for the way they conducted themselves and behaved in such a high-level environment.”

DEL PRETE. Priscilla Del Prete also praised her players: “Congratulations to the girls on the tournament and their performances. I have nothing to reproach them for. We have still won a silver medal that is worth as much as gold to me. They pushed through fatigue and injuries throughout these days, and finals are there to be won and lost. All of this will help them in the future. They leave knowing who they are and what they can become in the future.”

 

THE MATCH. Del Prete had to do without Oddina, who was suspended, while Andreangeli returned to the starting XI on the left. After five minutes, Portugal took the lead, with Rita Oliveira opening the scoring with a fine right-footed shot across goal. Ten minutes later, Portugal doubled their advantage. Paisana’s side broke forward at pace and Gonçalves Matos finished brilliantly to make it 2-0. It was the most difficult spell of the tournament, and the Azzurrine exposed themselves to the counter-attack, in an attempt to get back into the game. A second goal from Rita Martins made it 3-0 in the 26th minute. 

SECOND HALF. Italy looked for a spark at the start of the second half in the hope of making a very challenging comeback. The first attempt by Sterner went straight to the goalkeeper. Then, in the tenth minute, after Sterner herself had rounded the goalkeeper, Martone was blocked right at the crucial moment with the goal unguarded. Remarkably, every time Portugal found the target, they scored. In the 60th minute, De Matos Vitorino beat Agostini to make it 4-0 and wrap up the final.

PORTUGAL 4-0 ITALY (HT 3-0)

Portugal: Horta Martins; De Braga Ril, Jorge Monteiro, De Matos Vitorino, Ferreira Mendes; Pecanins Gama, Fernandes Pinto (Fernandes Aguia 65’), Gonçalves Matos; Barbosa Oliveira (Villa Franca Gomes 65’), Neves De Sa (Tavares De Sousa 55’), Pereira Branco (Alves Fontes 65’). Subs: Moreira De Carv, Da Costa Miranda, Pardal Serralheiro. Coach: Matos Paisana

 

Italy (4-2-3-1): Agostini, Grassi (Cacace 63’), Rosso, Pieri (Ciccarelli 41’), Andrangeli; Galluzzi, Guerzoni; Ciurleo, Sterner (Miraldi 63’), Martone, Pinchi (Saccomandi 53’). Subs: Pezzi, Messa. Coach: Del Prete

Goals: 5’ Rita Oliveira (P), 15’ Gonçalves Matos (P), 26’ Rita Oliveira (P), 59’ De Matos Vitorino (P)

Referee: Misja (Slovenia); Assistants: Soklevska (North Macedonia), Cvetanovikj (North Macedonia); Fourth official: Ristov (North Macedonia)

Notes: De Braga Ril (P) booked

Single Group: Portugal, Morocco, ITALY, Slovenia, Kosovo

 

Match schedule

 

Matchday 1, Saturday 22 August

Slovenia 0-4 Morocco

Portugal 3-0 Kosovo

 

Matchday 2, Sunday 23 August

Portugal 2-1 Morocco

Italy 4-1 Kosovo

 

Matchday 3, Tuesday 25 August

Morocco 4-0 Kosovo

Italy 1-1 Slovenia

 

Matchday 4, Thursday 27 August

Portugal 4-0 Slovenia

Italy 3-1 Morocco

 

Matchday 5, Saturday 29 August

Slovenia 1-1 Kosovo

Portugal 1-1 Italy

 

Standings

Portugal and Italy 8, Morocco 7, Slovenia 2, Kosovo 0

 

Finals, Monday 31 August

3rd place Morocco 3-1 Slovenia

1st place Portugal 4-0 Italy