As every year for 25 years, Portugal hosts at this time a friendly tournament between some of the best international nations. This Wednesday was the first day of the competition with beautiful posters on the program. We offer a summary of this first day, marked in particular by the wide success of the Netherlands against Japan or the first victory of Portugal against China.

==> Algarve Cup 2018 - Program & Results


Group A: The host country starts with a victory


Last of the previous edition, with for only point a draw (0-0) against Canada, the Seleção succeeds its entry in matter. Rarely known for big performances in the Algarve, a competition that the Seleçao plays at home, however, Portugal is also the nation of the tournament ranked worst in the FIFA rankings (38th). However, against China, the Portuguese have shown a beautiful face, in line with what they could show the Euro, and have imposed 2-1.

From the start Portugal is dangerous, with a shot on the cross of Diana Silva (3rd). Then, the player of the Sporting will solicit again Lu Feifei (10th). On the other side of the field, Xu Yanlu stands out for China. It is also she who opens the score in the second half. On a long ball Liu Shanshan came from the left, the Portuguese defense struggles to clear, Xu Yanlu arrives and shot instantly (57th). But Portugal equalized almost in the wake on a cons smoothly led. Vanessa Marques intercepts a ball in the middle of the field, it goes up the axis then, at the entrance to the surface, she shifts to her right Diana Silva, who center for the head of Carolina Mendes (60). The local players will go for the win, a first against China, on a set kick. A free-kick hit by midfielder Carole Costa and lober directly the Chinese door that had badly anticipated its air exit (85th).


Australia at the end of the suspense


Another meeting of Group A, the match between Australia and Norway has experienced many twists in the pouring rain. It is Norway who will launch the hostilities with a deboulé left side of Kristine Minde who center before the goal for Elise Thorsnes who opens the score (11th). The Matildas respond in the wake, on a corner that Clare Polkinghorne cuts at the first post (13th).

Over the minutes Australia will be more and more dangerous, before taking the lead on a goal from Chloe Logarzo, following a mistake by the Norwegian goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth (24th). Then, Samantha Kerr will allow Australia to make the break, perfectly served in the box by Lisa De Vanna, the attacker recently transferred to the Chicago Red Stars has only to adjust the goalkeeper to the bottom of the post (31st ). Of the last seven games in Australia, Kerr has consistently scored at least once.

Led 3-1 at half-time, Martin Sjögren's players will be able to get back to the Matildas. First with a return corner of Guro Reiten, which Mackenzie Arnold pushes back, but it comes back to Lisa-Marie Utland who, on the goal line, has only to push his head (52). Then Elise Thorsnes for the double, transforming the penalty obtained by Reiten (61st).

Samantha Kerr will try several times to put Australia back on the scoreboard, but to no avail. While his goal is denied for offside in the final minute of regulation time, both teams are expected to leave each other back to back. But it was not counting on a last corner for the Matildas, a big mess in the surface, and Clare Polkinghorne who manages to push the ball at the bottom. On the wire, the Brisbane Roar captain allows Australia to win 4-3 and share the head of Group A with Portugal.


Group B: Sweden and South Korea win


Sweden has made it into the Algarve tournament against Canada. A meeting between two flagship nations, both medalists at the last Olympic Games. In this match, Sweden won on the score of 3-1 after opening the score before the break. A first indecisive period where one of the best opportunities is to the credit of Canada. A free-kick from Christine Sinclair 20 meters full axis, deflected by the wall but on which Hedvig Lindahl is vigilant and diverts the ball for a corner (27th).

In the 43rd minute, Mimmi Larsson opened the scoring for the Scandinavian players. Left side, Jonna Andersson transmits for Sofia Jakobsson who centers in the box. Rebecca Quinn tries to intercept the ball in front of goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé but finally returns it to Larsson who does not pray to send the ball into the Canadian net.

Back in the locker room, the response of the North American players is not waiting, there too with the help of an adverse error. Launched in depth by Allysha Chapman, Nichelle Prince resists the return of Magdalena Eriksson and hits the goal in a closed corner. The ball is released in front of his line by Lindahl and Prince can set back to Janine Beckie who arrives launched and concludes for Canada (46th). Returned to the score, Canada is however quickly taken by Swedish pressing. Surrounded by three players, Jessie Fleming loses the ball in his camp in favor of Caroline Seger. The midfielder Rosengard can serve Fridolina Rolfö who marks a uncrossed shot from the left (51st). Sweden has several opportunities to break the nail and finally succeed with a gift from the opposing defense. On a short recovery from Stephanie Labbé to Shelina Zadorsky, the Canadian defender returns the ball to Stina Blackstenius came to the laundry. The Montpellier striker seized the opportunity to score the goal of the break and victory for Sweden (87th). Same score in the other Group B game, where South Korea beats Russia (3-1). Dominant, the Koreans recover high on the ground and get the first opportunities. However, they will be punished on the first real Russian opportunity. A free-kick at the entrance to the left-hand side that Nadezka Smirnova takes charge of shooting at the far post where Anna Belomyttseva takes a crossed head (16th). Russia is again dangerous on a new set piece, but it passes right next to the left post of the South Korean door (22nd). A missed opportunity of the Russians that will allow their opponents not to be won and even pick up the score just before the break thanks to a goal from the head of Lee Mi-Na (45th). In the second half, South Korea will regain the upper hand over the match and move quickly to the scoreboard, with a goal from Han Chae-Rin (52). And, although Tatiana Shcherbak saves her team several times, as on this far-fetched shot by Lee Geum-Min, that will not be enough. Jung Seol-Bin will make the break by adjusting the young Russian goalkeeper a half-volley left (76th). Group C: In front of Oranje, Japan sees red Before a remake of the final of the last Euro, against Denmark, the Netherlands was facing Japan. At the 2017 edition, the two teams met in the match for 5th place, a balanced match that saw the Dutch win on the line in injury time. This time the face of the match will have been totally different. The reigning European champions had a 6-2 win over past Nadeshiko. Speed, especially on the sides, of Oranje quickly turned the game to their advantage. From the 4th minute Lieke Martens will open the score on a center in withdrawal of Lineth Beerensteyn. Four minutes later, we find the two protagonists, but the roles are reversed. The player of FC Barcelona is at the pass for his compatriot from Bayern Munich who concludes. On fire, Martens enters the area shortly after and sees his shot stopped by the Japanese keeper. Largely above, the Dutch assaults are linked and the nets will continue to tremble. After a goal from Siri Worm at the hour of the game, the Lyonnaise Shanice van de Sanden benefits from a rematch error of the Japanese skipper Sakiko Ikeda to afford a goal on the occasion of his 50th appearance in the orange jersey ( 35th). Of a shot from inside the left, Emi Nakajima will narrow the gap for Japan, but it will be "only anecdotal" since just before the break, the Netherlands will register a fifth goal. Beerensteyn sees his boxing kick for a corner by Ikeda. Corner with Sherida Spitse in charge, and strikes to the second post where Stefanie van der Gragt jumps higher than everyone and places a head that skims the inside of Ikeda's left post. Led 5-1 at the break, the Japanese could have sank further into the second half. "Fortunately," only Lieke Martens will weigh down the mark (52). After a shot by Jackie Groenen pushed back, the attacker Blaugrana sees the ball back to him and can adjust the door of the Nadeshiko. In front of Sarina Wiegman's players, Japan will keep their heads high and still manage to score a second goal, in a late game to their advantage. On an individual action, Mana Iwabuchi breaks into the box, she dribbles Spitse and Worm to score (82). The Nippones even offer two other hot occasions as on the ball perfectly addressed in the back of a disorganized Dutch defense, Kumi Yokoyama misses his face to face with Sari van Veenendaal and pulls aside. A big win that allowed the Netherlands to take the Group C lead alone, and to send a k was held in a 0-0 draw against Iceland. Denmark, which stumbled several times on the crossbar, first by Sanne Troelsgaard, then by Montpelliéraine Katrine Veje.