TOrres Vedras is the city of European football stories, and the Torreense women’s team does not want the focus to be just on the men’s sector. This is because, this Thursday, the team led by Gonçalo Nunes went to the Czech Republic to draw against Sparta Prague, in a duel counting for the first leg of the round of 16 of the European Cup, with a final result of 2-2.
After leaving the Ukrainian side of FC Kharkiv along the way, the Western team did not have an easy task when traveling to last season’s Czech champions, who reached the semi-finals of this same competition in 2025/26.
The truth is that the match didn’t even start in the best way for Torreense, who saw the home team open the scoring in the first half, after North American forward Hallie Bergford finished for the first of the game, in the 34th minute.
The Portuguese team still tried to respond before the break, but the rest went to the changing rooms with a disadvantage by the minimum margin, which would be difficult to overcome in the second half.
But Gonçalo Nunes made changes before the restart, by promoting the entry of Bruna Ramos to replace Maria Guerreiro, and ended up reaping the rewards shortly afterwards.
In the 57th minute, the Torres Vedras team managed to score the equalizer, after an impetuous entry looking to get back into the fight for the result, with Gerda Konst being assisted by striker Janaina Weimer and shaking the net defended by goalkeeper Harantova for the first time in the game.
From that moment on, Torreense gained confidence to ‘beat’ the Czech Republic champions, and even managed to turn the score around 13 minutes after equality was restored.
Janaina Weimer once again played the role of assistant, with a deadly pass that isolated the American Maile Hayes, who, in front of the opponent’s goal, shot well to complete the ‘somersault’ on the scoreboard, giving the Portuguese reasons to celebrate in Prague.
There were still multiple occasions that could have increased the difference between the two teams, but between good defenses by the Czech goalkeeper and the posts, the intention of the current leaders, in their condition, of the Portuguese national championship was stopped.
But the bucket of ice water was about to be served, with a poor throw by the Portuguese team’s goalkeeper leaving the ball at the feet of Paulenova, who shot for the equalizing goal, in the 90+3 minute.
Stubbornness will be done in Portugal
After this result, which had a bittersweet taste for Torreense, the second leg will be played on November 11th, on Portuguese soil, with the support of the fans of the Lusitanian team being able to be fundamental for the passage to the quarter-finals of the women’s European Cup.
Remember that the team that advances will face the winner of the tie between Brann and Czarni Sosnowiec, who have a 3-0 Norwegian lead in the first leg.
