Portugal defeats Azerbaijan in UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying
The Portuguese women’s U19s squad kicked off their UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign today with a 6-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan in their opening matchday of Group 3.
In the Fão Sports Complex, forward Telma Encarnação was in the spotlight, scoring a poker at 13, 31, 35 and 64 minutes, with goals from Lara Pintassilgo at 20 and Ana Teles at 65 given greater volume to the result.
José Paisana’s pupils have provisionally isolated themselves at the head of the group with three points and are awaiting the conclusion of the inaugural round today, when European runners-up Germany and Albania meet at the Fafe Municipal Stadium. .
The top two finishers in the 12 groups, along with the top four finishers, qualify for the elite round, leading up to the finals of the women’s tournament in Georgia, from 21 July to 2 August 2020.
The disparity between the two sets was accentuated early on, with Telma Encarnação opening the scoring after 13 minutes, following a corner from Marta Ferreira.
The early goal rocked Portugal for a quiet performance and Lara Pintassilgo tried to increase the distance after 20 minutes, corresponding in the middle of the Azerbaijani area to a cross from Bárbara Lopes.
Before the break, Telma Encarnação crowned the inspired afternoon with two more celebrations, scoring on 31 minutes with a direct free-kick and hat-trick on 35, at a new request from Bárbara Lopes.
The squad retained their dominance in the second half and easily reached half a dozen goals, thanks to two bursts from Telma Encarnação, who signed the poker at 64, and the new entrant. Ana Teles, a minute later.
Against an Azerbaijan unable to frame any shot on Carolina Martins’s goal, the Portuguese entered a management rhythm until the end, with the following duels with Albania at 16:00 on Saturday in Fafe and Germany, on Tuesday at 11:00 am in Braga.
