The Football Ferns found their scoring touch with a 1-0 win over hosts Portugal at the Algarve Cup.

Annalie Longo scored the winner in the 69th minute, lobbing the ball over the Portugal goalkeeper in the match at Albufeira on Tuesday (NZ time).

Longo met a cross with a lobbing volley that found the left hand corner of the net.

Sarah Gregorius looked to have given the Football Ferns a second goal with a superb header in the 90th minute but it was ruled out by the assistant referee.

The Football Ferns also had the ball over the line 20 minutes into the contest from Anna Green's wide free kick but the goal was chalked off for a foul by Amber Hearn on the Portugal goalkeeper.

Ria Percival proved the New Zealand side's most potent threat in the first half hour, the fullback delivering several telling crosses into the Portugal penalty area but each of them went unrewarded as the hosts scrambled clear.

Fellow fullback Green's set piece delivery was also causing issues for Portugal with a succession of in-swinging corners and free kicks making life difficult for the Portugal rear guard.

The win puts New Zealand into the playoff for third and fourth at the prestigious tournament on Thursday (5.30am NZ time). New Zealand, world ranked No 16, will play Iceland who are ranked No 19.

New Zealand coach Tony Readings felt his side were "good value", having managed the game effectively throughout.

"There was a big wind which we played into in the first half and we handled that quite well," Readings said.

"We created a few chances and in general we thought we did quite well and we were disappointed not to go in at least one goal up.



"We've created really good chances in this tournament and not taken them and then the goal we have got is a scrappy one.



"But we're happy to take the goal however it comes and it was coming and then we were able to see the game out quite comfortably we thought in the end."

Readings said the team were now looking for forward their playoff match against the second-placed side in Group A, with a strong opponent ideal as the Football Ferns continue to build towards the Rio Olympics.

"What the other group has shown is that it's pretty close. Canada are the only team that have qualified for the Olympics from that group yet there are two good European teams in there in Denmark and Iceland."

"They have shown with Denmark beating Canada and then Iceland comfortably beating Denmark, no matter who we play in the next game it's going to be a challenge.

"This for us really replicates a quarter-final for us at the Olympics and that's what we're working towards."

New Zealand opened the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Brazil and were then frustrated by Russia in a 0-0 draw.

Result:

Portugal 0-1 New Zealand (Annalie Longo 69')

HT: 0-0

New Zealand: 21. Rebecca Rolls (GK), 2. Ria Percival, 3. Anna Green (18. CJ Bott 46'), 4. Katie Duncan, 5. Abby Erceg (capt), 6. Rebekah Stott, 9. Amber Hearn, 12. Betsy Hassett, 13. Rosie White (10. Sarah Gregorius 46'), 14. Katie Bowen (11. Kirsty Yallop 60'), 16. Annalie Longo