Goals from Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth gave Portugal an historic first win at the Women’s World Cup, as they proved too strong for Vietnam to deal with.

The result has them on three points just behind the USA and Netherlands in the table, ahead of their final group tie, they still have the chance at reaching the next stage, they may have needed more goals in this tie if it comes to GD.

Portugal looked strong in the opening half and could easily have been ahead by more than two at the break, but just failed to find the net, in the second they tried some erratic efforts that were wasteful, when they did go for better chances they were left thwarted.

Vietnam started brighter, but unable to get a clear sight of goal, it was the Portuguese who were able to build some early chances, from a counter attack Jessica Silva was through on goal but she scuffed the effort and it was wide of the goal.

Two minutes later Silva turned provider, racing down the wing to beat the Vietnam full-back, she found Kika Nazareth, her effort at goal ending up over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

A minute later however, they were ahead, they had been running rings around the Vietnam defence, Lucia Alves crossed into the area and Telma Encarnacao applied the finishing touch for the lead in the seventh minute.

Despite having a five back, their defence was being tested by some relentless Portuguese pressure, almost at walking pace, Nazareth tried for goal with a volley that went over, before setting up Alves, but she could not get past the rushing keeper to create a chance.

21 minutes in and it was 2-0, the Portugal attack was causing serious issues and a cutting pass from Encarnacao slipped the ball through for Nazareth to run onto, she had time and space to place an effort on goal, finishing to the bottom left hand corner to double the lead.

It was their own downfall really in terms of the Vietnam defence, they were poorly organised and frequently were exploited, unable to keep up their marking duties, the likes of Silva really cutting them open.

And it was Silva who had the chance to make it three, Vietnam unable to clear a cross, it landed at the feet of SIlva, she was not expecting it and ms controlled the chance as the goal was gaping ahead of her, it could have been curtains 25 minutes in.

Pressure was still being applied by Portugal and they kept trying to add further goals, Andreia Jacinto lofted the ball into the box over the Vietnam defence where Encarnacao volleyed for goal, then had to try scramble the rebound and go for goal a second time, Kim Thanh saved well on both occasions.

On the half hour mark again the Vietnam defence was exploited, Encarnacao sending a through ball between the defenders for Nazareth to chase, she tried to play a clever back heel pass for Alves, but a Vietnam defender was back there to clear, alarm bells still ringing in that defence.

Vietnam just were not at the races, Portugal were enjoying 67% possession and had nine shots, trying to increase their lead even more, Jacinto had a further chacebut that went wide, but at the other end, a dreadful first touch by Patricia Morais, the second of their two changes, almost saw the goalkeeper make a huge blunder, but despite being pressured got the ball away.

Morais was called into action again in the 42nd minute, this time to palm away a strike from range, the Vietnamese really lacking conviction in front of goal, unable to really cause too much threat and worry to the Portuguese defence. 

Playing out the rest of the half under pressure, the whistle came as a relief to the Vietnam players, Portugal were on fire and being ahead, they wanted to notch as many goals as possible to boost their goal difference of the the showdown with the United States, the aim of the game was that as far as they were concerned points were secured.

It looked like goals were set to rain as the second half got underway, Nazareth and Silva both had early chances but failed to really cause issue, Silva then found Encarnacao with a cross to the back post, her volley over the bar.

Silva tried from range but the shot was not threatening, they were looking a little frustrated as they were not getting goals, trying numerous low xG chances, hoping one of them would find a way in, Joana Marchao the next to go from range but again nothing.

After the hour mark they started to create better chances, Jacinto dragged an effort wide of the goal after a well worked corner routine, before Silva once more tired to link up with Encarnacao at the back post, her header wide of the mark.

Two minutes later it should have been three-nil. Nazareth with another beautiful pass for Silva, the keeper darted out and saved her original effort on goal, but the rebound fell nicely for an open goal, but the shot went past the post, seconds later Marchao shot from the edge of the box, it hit the bar and rebounded into the path of Nazareth but she failed to convert.

That became the story of the second half, Portugal unbale to find the target, changes a plenty but unable to really catch them for more goals, Vietnam depart the tournament, now the meeting with the USA, looks even more interesting.