Euro 2025: Portugal stays alive after 89th-minute goal in draw with Italy
A Portugal fan holds a Liverpool scarf with a picture of Portugal international and Liverpool player Diogo Jota who died recently, before the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The players watch the ball hit the crossbar after a header from Italy's Cecilia Salvai, right, during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's Emma Severini tries to tackle Portugal's Tatiana Pinto during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy players run celebrating to teammate Cristiana Girelli after she scored the opening goal during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Portugal's Diana Gomes, left, celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the Euro 2025 group B soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Italy's Cristiana Girelli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's Cristiana Girelli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Portugal players wear shirts with the name of Portugal international and Liverpool player Diogo Jota who died recently, during warmup before the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A Portugal fan holds a Liverpool scarf with a picture of Portugal international and Liverpool player Diogo Jota who died recently, before the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The players watch the ball hit the crossbar after a header from Italy's Cecilia Salvai, right, during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's Emma Severini tries to tackle Portugal's Tatiana Pinto during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy players run celebrating to teammate Cristiana Girelli after she scored the opening goal during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Portugal's Diana Gomes, left, celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the Euro 2025 group B soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Italy's Cristiana Girelli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match between Portugal and Italy at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
GENEVA (AP) — Portugal desperately pressed Italy to find the goal to stay alive at the Women's European Championship and finally got it in the 89th minute from Diana Gomes to secure a 1-1 draw.
The result sent Spain into the quarterfinals from Group B after its earlier 6-2 rout of Belgium which was eliminated from contention.
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Italy was joining Spain in the quarterfinals with a lead taken in the 70th on captain Cristiana Girelli's high-class curling shot from 20 meters.
Portugal seemed to have a lifeline in the 80th but Diana Silva's goal was ruled out for an offside spotted after a two-minute video review.
Then Portugal was denied by the crossbar in the 89th when Carole Costa's firm header came back off into play, before the ball was recycled for Gomes to earn a crucial point.
Portugal defender Ana Borges was sent off deep into stoppage time.
Italy is still favored to advance, moving up to four points in the group standings. That is three clear of Portugal but also six better in goal difference which is now the tiebreaker between the two.
In Friday's final round, Italy plays Spain and Portugal faces Belgium.
___
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