2-1: Portugal pull off a miracle and qualify for the quarterfinals

Portugal, current runners-up in the Under-21 Euro Cup, suffered but are in the quarterfinals of the current edition of the tournament, taking place in Georgia and Romania, after getting the hard-fought victory over Belgium they needed ( 2-1).and benefit from the Netherlands’ draw against Georgia (1-1).

In this way the surprising co-host Georgia, in its debut at the last stage of the Under-21 Euro Cup, goes to the quarterfinals as the first in group A with 5 points ahead of Portugal (4), Netherlands (3 ) and Belgium (2).

Portugal, which started to fail against Georgia (2-0) and improved a bit against the Netherlands (1-1), played their best game of the tournament. Forced to win, he came out determined to win even though in the 2nd minute he had a big scare when Michel-Ange Balikwisha delivered the goal on a tray but Loïs Openda, alone in front of the goalkeeper, finished off the spot.

Portugal immediately responded and in the ensuing counterattack Pedro Neto forced goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt to show style to prevent the goal.

Belgium will surely win too to not rely on the Netherlands, which is why the game gave a continuous arrival to both goals and exciting.

Pedro Neto, wonderful

However, in the first part Portugal, led by an outstanding Pedro Neto, He had the best opportunities. The Wolverhampton winger creates a lot of danger with his mobility and runs down the right.

In the 10th minute, Fabio Silva got a rebound and, distracted by Nuno Tavares, did not connect his shot properly allowing Vandevoordt to react.

After a quarter of an hour it was Francisco Conceiçao who poured in a good attack on the right but Neto didn’t know how to take advantage. Although he never stopped striving for a goal, Portugal became less and their goalkeeper, Celton Bial, had to intervene to block Balikwisha’s shot (24′).

the goals came

In the second half the goals came. Portugal gave first as a result of Fabio Silva’s run to the end line and, after a defensive reboundJoao Neves, Benfica’s 18-year-old midfielder, hits a lethal volley (56′).

Belgium was removed but did not resign in any way. Less than ten minutes were tied. Openda put in a good cross from the right and Yorbe Vertessen, who had just come on for Largie Ramazani (Almería), headed at the near post before Celton Bial’s false start (65′).

decisive punishment

It’s a toss-up, as if it’s a tie, and both teams are constantly looking for a goal. Openda was disallowed for offside (82′) and Portugal finally qualified thanks to a penalty.

The referee interpreted that the central Zeno Debast, whom he advised, elbowed Henrique Araújo in the face when he almost jumped with goalkeeper Vandevoordt fighting for a ball that fell from the sky and Tiago Dantas, from PAOK Thessaloniki, converted the maximum penalty with hope a minute from time.

Georgia is making history

In the other game, the Netherlands had a good chance in the first half, as two headers into the post early by Kenneth Taylor.

Great goal on Kvaratskhelia

But Georgia withstood the pressure and went ahead before the break with their first chance with a great goal from Zuriko Davitashviliwho in true Kvicha Kvaratskhelia style, starred in a great diagonal attack from the right that ended with a low left-footed shot from the edge of the area (42′).

Shortly after, with the discount of the first half, Talor (Ajax) equalized by taking advantage of the fact that the local defense did not know how to clear the ball.

Mamardashvili resists

In the second half, the Netherlands tried everything to achieve the goal that would classify them, they finished countless times but could not beat the Valencia goalkeeper. Giorgi Mamardashvili and Georgia fought back.