The Portuguese women's hockey team today failed to break the “slump” in the World Cup finals, losing (0-2) again to Spain in the decisive match, and missing out on the unprecedented title in Novara, Italy. Portugal reached the final, held at the Pala Igor Gorgonzola, with a 100% winning record in the World Cup, including a win over the defending champion Argentina in the group stage, and although it gave favouritism to the Spanish team, the campaign in Novara allowed us to dream of our first world champion title.

However, Spain won clearly, being almost always superior throughout the 50 minutes, thus prolonging the “malabata” of the Portuguese women's team, which they increasingly assume themselves to be the main responsible for: in five finals that Portugal have lost, this was the fourth match in a row against the Spanish team.

The match did not have much history, as Spain always threatened Portugal's goal, which resisted in the first half, and did not give up until the end of the first half. With less than a minute and a half left to rest, Spain broke the Portuguese resistance, and Sara Roses scored from a penalty kick.

If the goal before the end of the first half was a heavy blow for the Portuguese team, the worst came immediately after the resumption of the final, as the second half also began practically with another Spanish goal, this time by Maria Sanjurjo, who happened to be, and revealed himself, the real referee of the match. Until the end Spain managed to exploit the advantage, and the Portuguese team tried in vain to score a goal to restart the match.

The women's team thus leaves Novara with the silver medal, after a day of Iberian duels that have always smiled on Spain, as just before this final, on the same track, the men's team found itself eliminated from Sunday's final by losing to its Spanish counterpart in a penalty shootout (1-2 after a 5-5 draw).

Game at Pala Igor Gorgonzola, in Novara, Italy.

Portugal – Spain 0-2.

Halftime: 0-1.

Tags:

0-1 Sara Roussé, 24 min (pen).

0-2 Maria Sanjurjo, 26.

The match was refereed by Francesco Stallone (Italy) and Leandro Divigno (Argentina).

– Portugal: Claudia Vicente, Sofia Moncovio, Leonor Coelho, Ana Catarina Ferreira and Raquel Santos. Also played were Ines Severino, Joana Teixeira and Ana Patricia Fernandes.

Coach: Helder Antunes.

– Spain: Ana Ferrer, Ana Casaramona, Marta Piquero, Maria Sanjurjo, Aina Florenza. Also played were Sara Roces, Mariana Colomer, Sara Lolo and Victoria Porta.

Coach: Sergei Masia.