Cristiano Ronaldo did not score, but Portugal beat the Czech Republic on Saturday (0-4) and are now leaders of group 2 of League A of the Nations League, with 10 points, ahead of Spain, who have 8. A point in Braga against Luis Enrique’s Roja was enough for the Portuguese team this Tuesday, on the last day, to reach the Final Four. Spain is obliged to win at home to Portugal after falling to Switzerland (1-2).
Portugal head into the penultimate day in 2nd place, one point behind Spain, who are in the lead. But the Fernando Santos did their homework, unlike the Reds against Switzerlandand they reached the decisive match without being forced to beat the team led by Luis Enrique.
The Portuguese, looking to qualify for the Final Four of the Nations League (whose first edition they conquered)not only fulfilled: they conceded 4 goals to the Czechs, whose great star, Patrik Schick, crashed the ball into the crossbar when trying to convert a penalty by the hand of CR7.
czech republic
04
Portugal
Czech Republic: Vaclik; Zima, Brabec (Kúdela, 22′), Jemelka; Coufal, Soucek (Kuchta, 76′), Král, Zelený (Vlkanova, 62′); Barak (Sevcik, 62′), Schick, Hlozek (Cerny, 62′)
Portugal: coast; Dalot, Dias, Danilo Pereira (Joao Mario, 83′), Rui; Carvalho (Palhinha, 73′), Bruno Fernandes (Matheus Nunes, 73′), Neves; Silva (Horta, 66′); Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo (Diogo Jota, 66′)
The objectives: 0-1, Dalot (33′); 0-2, Bruno Fernandes (45+2′); 0-3, Dalot (52′) 0-4, Jack (82′)
Referee: Srdjan Jovanovich (Serbia). He didn’t show any cards.
Incidents: The match on the fifth day of Group A2 of the League of Nations was played at the Eden Stadium in Prague before 19,322 spectators (full).
view the game file
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t score, but two of his Manchester United teammates were the stars: Diogo Dalot, author of the double, and Bruo Fernandes, which scored Portugal’s second goal. Rounding off the 0-4 was Liverpool winger Diogo Jota, assisted by CR7 himself.
Portugal had to wait 33 minutes to go ahead and he did it to Dalot’s ‘target’ in Rafael Leao’s pass. Mario Rui assisted Bruno Fernandes on 45+2. But the first part still promised more emotions: Cristiano Ronaldo’s top penalty by hand, on a jump, at 45 + 6 and Schick didn’t get it.
It was in the 52′ that Dalot completed his brace after a pass from Bruno Fernandes and in the 82′ Diogo Jota got the fourth, with a header, after the ball from the captain, who searched to the end for the goal that did not come, the one that would have been complete with the ‘little hand’.
Source: La Verdad
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