Powell dismayed by England's dismal showing

England's apparent aversion to playing in Portugal could prove extremely costly in a faltering Women's World Cup campaign.

Last year, having comfortably beaten a combative, but ordinary, Portuguese side at Barnsley in a European Championship qualifier, Hope Powell's team struggled to draw the return tie.

Confidence was nevertheless high when they travelled to the west coast of Portugal for the third of their qualifiers for the 2003 World Cup finals, which are to be held in China.

Powell's players had recovered from a first match defeat in Germany to perform well against the Netherlands at Grimsby, though frustratingly they had to settle for a scoreless draw. But Portugal had been overwhelmed 9-0 by the Germans and their coach, Nuno Cristovão, was resignedly talking down his team's chances on Saturday.

Cristovão was, however, given a lift he might perhaps have expected when England – as is their annoyingly self-defeating habit – conceded an early goal. From a sixth minute free-kick, the winger Anabela was left free to head in the opener.

England, though, recovered to equalise through the Doncaster Belles striker Karen Walker, who headed in the Tranmere winger Sue Smith's 38th-minute cross.

However, despite controlling the second half England produced few clear-cut chances. The best of them was lofted high over the bar by Fulham's striker Rachel Yankey 10 minutes from time. Other results, as well as their own, must go England's way in the second half of the group programme if they are to qualify for a play-off tie by finishing as runners-up.

The European champions Germany, almost inevitably, are set to win the four-nation group having taken maximum points from their first three matches. The result in Portugal therefore represented a chance wasted for England, as an angry Powell acknowledged.

"The performance was unsatisfactory from start to finish – it was not acceptable,'' she said.

''Last time we were here we had the same problem – we just seem to find it difficult to perform here. The game could have gone either way and you have to be pleased with one point rather than no points. But the girls are very, very dejected because they realise they've made it very difficult for themselves."

Goals: Anabela (6) 1-0; Walker (38) 1-1.

Portugal (4-4-2) C Cristina; Zavier, Monica (Lourido, h-t), Olivia, Mesquita; Anabela, Be, Monteiro, Patricia (Silva, 63); Couto, P Cristina. Substitutes not used: Olga, Pinho, Azevedo.

England (4-4-2): Cope (Charlton); Unitt (Fulham), White (Arsenal), Chapman (Fulham), Fletcher (Charlton); Burke (Doncaster Belles), Britton (Leeds), Proctor (Charlton), Smith (Tranmere); Walker (Doncaster Belles), Yankey (Fulham). Substitutes: Williams (Charlton) for Britton, 69; Embleton (Sunderland) for Smith, 81. Substitutes not used: Exley (Doncaster Belles), Brown (University of Alabama), C Hunt (Charlton), Stoney (Arsenal), Easton (Doncaster Belles).

Referee: C Brohet (Belgium).

Attendance: 1,500.