BRUNO FERNANDES SCORED both goals as Portugal booked their place in the World Cup knockout phase with a 2-0 victory over Uruguay at Lusail Stadium.
It initially looked as though Cristiano Ronaldo had drawn level with Portugal’s record World Cup goalscorer Eusebio when he rose to try and head in Fernandes’ 54th-minute cross.
But replays showed that the Portugal captain, who has scored eight World Cup goals, did not get a touch on it and the goal was given to Fernandes as his team claimed a second successive Group H win.
Fernandes’ goal, followed by a penalty in added time, proved enough to turn a tight and tense contest Portugal’s way and put them in pole position to top their group ahead of facing South Korea on Friday.
Uruguay, meanwhile, will need to beat Ghana in their quest for a place in the round of 16.
Portugal showed three changes from the side that beat opening opponents Ghana, with Nuno Mendes, Pepe and William Carvalho all handed starts.
Luis Suarez, meanwhile, was among the substitutes for Uruguay, with Edinson Cavani called into a starting XI that also saw roles for Guillermo Varela and Sebastian Coates.
Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur collected a yellow card after just six minutes following a foul on Ruben Dias, and Portugal dominated the early exchanges.
Fernandes drifted a shot wide, then Ronaldo saw a free-kick deflected for a corner, but Uruguay should have gone ahead 12 minutes before half-time.
Bentancur tormented Portugal’s defence after breaking clear from just inside his own half, but just when it looked as though he had done all the hard work with only Diogo Costa to beat, he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Mathias Olivera became the second Uruguay player to be booked, while Portugal’s Ruben Neves was also cautioned during an opening 45 minutes that finished 0-0.
But there was also a major blow for Portugal as Mendes was forced off injured, leaving the field in tears and being replaced by Raphael Guerreiro just before half-time.
Olivera was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card following a reckless foul, and Wolves captain Neves needed treatment after a challenge by Uruguay’s Matias Vecino.
The deadlock was broken nine minutes into the second period when Fernandes’ cross eluded Ronaldo and Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
It was no less than Portugal deserved, and they confirmed all three points when Fernandes sent Rochet the wrong way from the penalty spot after Jose Maria Gimenez hand-balled.
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The state of that **** Ronaldo claiming a goal off his own teammate when he didn’t even touch the ball. Embarrassing stuff.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: clearly joking with him you tit
@Paddy: he was in his hole joking!
@Paddy: Joking? Do you know who you’re referring to,the diving cheat doesn’t joke.
Still no idea what Darwin Nunez actually does on the football pitch, pocketed by 40 year old Pepe for 70 odd mins
@Sam Murray: that’s why your commenting on 42 articles.. but jokes aside he was absolutely anonymous. How where we tricked into believing Uruguay could be a dark horse. Really poor in two games so far.
@Darren Fitzpatrick: First time watching Uruguay but for me their link up play is terrible. Got into some good positions and broke down time and time again just missing simple passes. If they had taken their chances they could have won that game, just not good enough as a team imho.
Bruno doing Bruno stuff
@Brian Dunne: he was on fire Brian should have got the hatrick only to be denied with the post.. He was the best player on the pitch tonight.
@Pauly Kel: been portugals best player so far
Audacious nut meg attempt by Bruno that led to the penalty. The hand denied a certain goal chance.
To argue that by the letter of the law it wasn’t a penalty is infuriating.
Outrageous skill has to be applauded.
The law should allow instances like this to be declared a penalty.
@Matt Vaughan: silly
@John O Reilly: The law obviously did allow it to be a penalty as the Ref gave it. Outrageous skill ah come on give over. What was the defender supposed to do? Perform a Neo and stand back up while falling. Never a peno for me.
However Portugal deserved their win, if Uruguay could have passed the ball better rathering than hammering it at each they could have got a result.
Either way don’t see Portugal going deep into the competition, especially with the injuries stacking up.
@Trevor Wallace: Oops sorry John the reply was aimed at Matt.
@Trevor Wallace: i take your point.
However, how many players have you seen attempt a nut meg on the edge of the box, AND in a world cup..
He was through on goal.
It got me off my seat anyhow.
The letter of the law ( which i later learned) argues that his hand was in a natural position. But you could argue that throwing yourself on the ground to defend your goal isn’t a natural thing to do.
I accept that he couldn’t get out of the way of it, but it also denied a goal scoring opportunity
@Matt Vaughan: Well Uruguay had a fantastic chance when they cut straight through the Portuguese defence which for me would have been one of the goals of the tournament but he tried to nutmeg the keeper instead of chipping him. Split second decisions in sport make a difference.
However I get what you are saying but don’t agree on the skill etc. The defender sold himself early and really didn’t cover himself in glory, but didbt throw himself to ground, was trying to block the ball. If you can’t get out of the way and it’s a natural position then by the laws it shouldn’t be a peno correct?
Maybe I haven’t seen the full replay, if the ball had travelled through the defenders legs would Fernandes have a goal scoring chance? Not so sure myself….
It’s all opinions opinions
@Trevor Wallace: could have, would have, should have?
If you closed your eyes and heard some of the names on commentary, you would believe this is a game from 2010. Godin, cavani, Suarez, Pepe Ronaldo. All way past their sell by date. Was a really poor standard of football match for the most part. Bit of skill for the peno was nice from Bruno but apart from that. Suarez in his prime swivels and finishes that chance. Like a 40a trying to turn to get the shot away. Real anti climax tournament to this point.
@Darren Fitzpatrick: suarez in he’s prime swivels and takes a lump out of someone’s shoulder more like it, bruno was immense tonight, he cannot be that bad after all?
Aside from CR7 and handballs…. I’m really struggling with the extra time rules this season. Ref played 9mins 54secs of extra time when a penalty happened that must have cost at least 2 mins to sort out via VAR protests etc.
Last night the ref blew up under the 6mins alloted extra time when again time wasting etc was involved.
I thought Refs were encouraged to add on time for absolutely everything this season. Hence the crazy amounts of extra time across the English leads. What is going on, consistency sure isn’t?
Bruno was very good tonight but it was an awful game paul. Don’t think there’s much denying that.
@Darren Fitzpatrick: it was a poor game compared to last night’s in fairness.