Braga Women produced a commanding 5-0 victory over Maritimo Women in the Portugal Campeonato Nacional Feminino on September 13, 2026, reinforcing their status as one of the teams to beat in the title race.

From the opening minutes, Braga Women controlled the tempo and territory. Their pressing was intense, their passing was crisp, and their finishing was ruthless. Maritimo Women, who travelled from Madeira, struggled to contain the waves of attacks and were ultimately overwhelmed by the quality of the home side.

Match overview

The Campeonato Nacional Feminino is the top tier of women’s football in Portugal, and Braga Women have established themselves as regular contenders alongside the country’s biggest clubs. Against Maritimo Women, they showed exactly why: a balanced team with technical quality in midfield and speed in wide areas. The early goal settled any nerves and set the tone for a dominant display.

Maritimo Women tried to defend in numbers, but Braga’s movement and quick combinations pulled them out of position. The visitors had a few moments of possession but could not sustain attacks, and the scoreline reflected Braga’s superiority in both boxes.

Key moments

• 7th minute — 1-0: Ana Rute opened the scoring with a first-time finish after a low cross from the left.
• 19th minute — 2-0: Marta Ferreira doubled the lead, heading in from a corner.
• 35th minute — 3-0: Joana Martins made it three with a powerful strike from the edge of the area.
• 61st minute — 4-0: Joana Martins scored her second, finishing off a rapid counter-attack.
• 82nd minute — 5-0: Inês Silva completed the scoring with a composed finish after being played through one-on-one.

Tactical story

Braga Women set up with a high press and an aggressive attacking shape. Their midfield won the ball back quickly, allowing the forwards to attack before Maritimo could reorganise. The full-backs provided excellent width, stretching the defence and creating space for central runners. It was a complete team performance.

Maritimo Women found it difficult to keep possession under pressure. When they did win the ball, their forwards were isolated, and Braga’s centre-backs dealt comfortably with long balls. The visitors’ best spell came late in the first half, but by then the game was already slipping away.

Standout players

Joana Martins was the standout performer with two goals and an assist, linking play brilliantly and finding space between the lines. Ana Rute and Marta Ferreira also impressed, while Inês Silva’s late goal capped a strong substitute appearance. In midfield, Braga’s captain controlled the rhythm and rarely gave the ball away.

Maritimo Women’s goalkeeper made several saves to prevent an even larger margin, and their captain worked hard to organise the defence. But it was a difficult afternoon against a side with title ambitions.

Season impact

The 5-0 win boosts Braga Women’s goal difference and sends a clear message to their rivals in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino. In a title race that often comes down to fine margins, dominant victories like this can be crucial. Braga will now look to carry that momentum into their next fixtures.

For Maritimo Women, the focus will be on regrouping and improving defensively. The season is long, and there will be opportunities to collect points elsewhere. But facing a team of Braga’s quality is a reminder of the standard required at the top of Portuguese women’s football.