Portugal will play on Sunday in the final of the European Under-19 held in Malta after getting the better of Norway at the Bezzina Stadium in Paola (5-0). His rival in the title fight will come from the winner of the other semifinal, who face Spain and Italy tonight.
After defeating his group Poland (2-0), Italy (5-1) and hosts Malta (2-0), Portugal confirmed their candidacy for the title in the hands of their coach Joaquim Milheiro by consolidating themselves as a team leading scorer of the tournament with 14 goals, while he has barely received two.
Lead by its captain Hugo Félix, younger brother of Joao Félix and in the ranks of Benfica, Portugal were superior from the start to a Norway that, oddly enough, was led by the Portuguese on the bench Luis Pimenta, faced the first semifinal in its history at the tournament after finishing second in its group behind Spain.
Norway provided the first
Pimenta wanted his players to get the ball from the back but their defenses were still very green in this aspect and they facilitated the Portuguese’s first goal with less than four minutes left in the game.
The Norwegian players made their lives difficult in the face of rival pressure and the ball finally dropped at the feet of goalkeeper Magnus Ree, who in front of the harassment of Gustavo Sá, he crashed his attempt to push it away with his foot into the body of Famalicao’s midfielder and the ball went straight into the goal.
Hugo Félix earned the 2-0 penalty
After fifteen minutes, Portugal extended the advantage thanks to a penalty. Hugo Félix throws in a corner, Rodrigo Ribeiro handled and the ball landed in the hands of Vetle Walle Egeli. Hugo Félix himself converted the supreme penalty with his third goal in four games of this European Championship.
Portugal did not relax despite finding themselves with a significant advantage on the scoreboard and Gustavo Sá had a double chancewith two point-blank shots that didn’t end in a miracle goal.
Rodrigo Ribeiro who judged
After half an hour the game was definitely sentenced to another action where the Norwegian defense lacked force. Gustavo Sá pointed the ball into the small area and Rodrigo Ribeiro scores between the legs of a Ree who went out to cover him without success.
The only bad news for Portugal is the yellow card what did you see Nuno Félix and will prevent him from playing in the finalhis sixth in a European Under-19 and fourth in recent editions, data that confirms his potential in this category although he only won the title in 2018.
Another goal and assist from Rodrigo Ribeiro
After the break, Rodrigo Ribeiro contested the leading role against Hugo Félix, a team figure. The Portuguese ‘9’ showed he wanted more and in the 49th minute he poured in a fantastic Chilean kick that narrowly missed the goal.
After a few moments Rodrigo Ribeiro made it 4-0 with his second goal of the match, Headed solo to the far post from a cross from Samuel Justo (66′). The Sporting striker, with three goals, He overtook his teammate Hugo Félix and Spaniard Víctor Barberá, as the tournament’s leading scorers.
Now that Norway has completely surrendered, Rodrigo Ribeiro serves Carlos Borges 5-0 on a tray, just before Ree finished off a counter start with a long delivery from Hugo Félix (69′).
Portugal, technically far superior, continued to do their thing, setting the pace of the game with quality and having more chances to increase the win. Instead, Norway barely shot between the three sticks the entire game.
PORTUGAL
50
NORWAY
Portugal: Gonçalo Ribeiro, Gonçalo Esteves (Martim Fernandes, 46′), António Ribeiro, Gabriel Brás, Martim Marques (Luis Gomes, 73′); Samuel Justo, Nuno Félix (Yanis Da Rocha, 46′), Gustavo Sá (Joao Gonçalves, 58′); Hugo Félix, Rodrigo Ribeiro and Carlos Borges (Miguel Falé, 76′)
The
Norway: Ree (Eng, 86′); Solheim (Sivertsen, 46′), Hopland, Haram, Egeli; Odegard (Aas, 63′), Roaldsoy, Braude (Bruseth, 50′) (Murugesapillai, 86′); Bassi, Flataker and Pharaohs
Goals: 1-0, Gustavo Sá (4′); 2-0, Hugo Félix, penalty (17′); 3-0, Rodrigo Ribeiro (31′); 4-0, Rodrigo Ribeiro (66′); 5-0, Borges (69′)
Stadium: Tony Bezzina de Paola
Referee: Yellow cards for Nuno Félix (23′), Gonçalo Esteves (43′), Solheim (44′), Odegard (54′), Gustavo Sá (55′), Roaldsoy (56′)
The
see the match sheet
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
