Portugal secured an unprecedented 2-1 victory over the United States, with Diana Gomes scoring the opening goal in a historic upset that she quickly attributed to a collective team effort.
Gomes, whose goal marked Portugal’s first of the match, expressed immense joy over the outcome but deflected personal credit. She emphasized that the achievement belonged to the entire squad.
“It’s immense joy. The goal has my name, but it belongs to the whole team, because, without them, it wouldn’t be possible,” Gomes told Canal 11. “I’m very happy, now we have to enjoy what we did here.”
The team conceded an early goal, a moment Gomes acknowledged as a critical test of focus against top-tier opponents. She highlighted the unforgiving nature of playing against strong teams, where “any inattention, detail, or lack of concentration” can be detrimental.
Despite the setback, Portugal maintained its composure. “We suffered, but we remained focused,” Gomes stated. “There were many minutes ahead, and fortunately, we managed to turn it around.”
Looking forward, Gomes stressed the importance of continuous improvement. The team plans to address areas where they performed less effectively.
She also noted the team’s sustained concentration, even as they anticipated a strong second-half push from the United States. “We knew they would start strong in the second half, but we remained focused and concentrated until the last minute,” Gomes added.