Conceding twice after the 90-minute mark in the opening game of the group away in Vizela in March was what ultimately cost Finland top spot, and while their 4-0 away win in Slovakia last Friday kept them three points behind Portugal and improved their goal difference to +7, a 5-0 rout of Latvia by the Portuguese gave them a +15 goal difference, meaning Finland had to win by four.
Marko Saloranta's side gave themselves every chance by taking the lead in the 12th minute when Adelina Engman provided for Nea Lehtola, but Helmarit hopes were all but ended just before the 30-minute mark, when a free-kick from Kika Nazareth evaded everyone in a crowded penalty area and nestled in the bottom corner.
Nonetheless, heading into the play-offs with another win was the main objective for the home side, who went ahead again two minutes into the second half through Lehtola's second of the game, provided by Oona Siren.
And Finland capped off a worthy victory 11 minutes from time when Olga Ahtinen teed up Eva Nystrom to make it 3-1 and deny Portugal an 100% record in the group.
Both sides now head into October's play-offs for the World Cup, where Portugal will be a seeded team and Finland an unseeded for Path 2 in the first of two rounds of matches, with a place at Brazil 2027 the ultimate prize.