Portugal coach Francisco Neto made seven changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the Netherlands in their Group E opener and the decision paid off as first-half goals from Encarnacao and Francisca Nazareth earned them a first-ever World Cup win.
Portugal is third in Group E with three points and will face the US in their final group game in Auckland while Vietnam, yet to score or pick up a point, take on the Netherlands in Dunedin, with both matches on Tuesday.
The US are level on four points with the Dutch but top the table on goal difference after the teams drew 1-1 today.
In stark contrast to their struggling display against the Netherlands, Portugal dazzled under the floodlights in Hamilton, and Neto was delighted with the victory even though the scoreline did not reflect their dominance.
“This is very important and it means a lot for all the players,” said the Portugal coach, who has been in charge since 2014. “I’m so happy to be here, to compete. This victory is dedicated to all the players, past and present.
“The United States will be a completely different game…Today, even though we had a victory, there are lots of things we can improve.”
Encarnacao swept Portugal in front after seven minutes with a smart first-time finish from Lucia Alves’ cross before turning provider for Nazareth, who fired the ball past goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh in the 21st minute.
Only 11 places separate the two teams in the world rankings, with Portugal sitting higher at 21, but the contest was one-sided and the Europeans were firmly on top throughout with five attempts on target in the first half alone.
They could not add more gloss to the result, however, as Kim Thanh, who helped restrict holders the US to three goals in Vietnam’s opening defeat, was once again key in ensuring they did not concede more than two.
Despite Kim Thanh’s efforts, Vietnam struggled to create chances and managed only one shot on target in the match when Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy drew a save from Patricia Morais just before the break.
“In the first half, I was not satisfied with the team,” Vietnam coach Mai Duc Chung said. “They are 11 ranks higher than us and they come from Europe so, yes, they are much better than us…This is a lesson for us.
“As a coach, I have learnt a lot (from this tournament). “We see our weaknesses, and we can learn from this.”