The soccer match in Madeira had a familiar script for the home side, Marítimo. But then, a substitute arrived. Britany Raphino, an American forward, stepped onto the field after halftime. She replaced Maísa Correia. What followed was a stunning display, turning a good win for Sporting into an absolute rout. Raphino netted three goals, sealing a commanding 4-0 victory that left no room for doubt.
Sporting’s “lionesses” started strong, even with Telma Encarnação, who was injured, watching from the stands in her team’s colors. Madison Haugen opened the scoring. Her cross-shot from the left side surprised Nicole Panis, Marítimo’s Dutch goalkeeper. Panis quickly made up for it, though. She made several good saves against Beatriz Fonseca and Cláudia Neto, keeping the scoreline from getting out of hand before the break.
The Madeiran squad, playing with three central defenders, showed some promise. Holtz and Fatumata, who was Marítimo’s standout player, created chances. They even threatened Sporting’s goal. Yet, they couldn’t find a way past the defense, and the half ended without a goal for them. The game’s path was still open, but only just.
Raphino’s arrival wiped away any lingering questions about the outcome. In just 21 minutes, she completed a hat trick. Her first goal was a low shot, a dart across the grass. Then came a powerful header. Finally, she finished with a simple tap-in right at the goal’s mouth. Luís Gabriel’s Marítimo tried to hit back. Érica Costa and Fatumata pushed hard, looking for a reply. But Sporting’s goalkeeper, Catarina Potra, was too solid. Marítimo simply had no answer to Sporting’s dominance.