The top three teams in each of the League B groups will be advancing to the Playoffs, but with better seedings and possible promotion to League A for the UEFA Women's Nations League at stake, every match would be crucial for Finland across the qualifying campaign.
Taking something from their trip to top seeds Portugal in their opener would represent a positive result, and that's what the Finns were hanging onto, as they limited their hosts to a pair of efforts on goal before the hour-mark from Andreia Faria and Diana Silva, and Anna Koivunen was equal to both.
Diana Gomes was looking threatening for the home side, while Joana Marchao made sure Koivunen's night wasn't getting any easier, as Finland finally forced Portuguese goalkeeper Ines Pereira into a save through substitute Adelina Engman's effort.
But cruelly, the Helmarit resistance was broken in the 91st minute, when Kika Nazareth picked out Lucia Alves, and the Benfica defender powered home her third goal for her national side.
That goal was a real sucker-punch for Finland, who capitulated in the final moments and allowed Nazareth to register her second assist in three minutes, teeing up teenager Carolina Santiago to score her first Portugal goal in just her second cap.
Added time became even more eventful six minutes in, when Tatiana Pinto was guilty of a foul on Engman inside the area, but Eveliina Summanen failed to convert the resulting penalty.
A 2-0 win for Portugal was finally sealed, as they go top of the group on goal difference following Slovakia's 3-2 victory over Latvia earlier today.
Review this evening's 2027 Women's WCQ results on Flashscore.