Wade’s strike provided the perfect start and it was the first goal conceded by Portugal in the qualifiers.

“To start well like that gave us a good foundation and a little bit of confidence. The girls were sensational,” added Oxtoby.

“We didn’t feel we were far off it on Friday night – I know the score didn’t reflect that but from our point of view we felt were doing the right thing and we worked a lot on the transitional moments, trying to be clinical.”

Northern Ireland switched off for Portugal’s leveller and a mistake led to their second on the half-hour mark.

Oxtoby believes errors will be made as her young team develops.

“I’ll take that – I want us to try and play in the right moments and from my point of view the more we try to do that the more we’re going to progress up the pitch and the more we’re going to create.

“You have to be brave and they didn’t get much wrong. That’s a sign of a team that’s staring to grow in confidence.”