Finance
Portugal’s second consecutive win on Monday at Lusail Stadium in Qatar took them to six points and the top of Group H standings, leaving Uruguay, Ghana, and South Korea to compete for the group’s second qualification spot.
Portugal joins Brazil and France as the only teams to reach the knockout stage thus far.
Portugal started well on the ball, with the majority of possession, but Uruguay created the best chance. Rodrigo Bentancur broke through Portugal’s defense brilliantly before wasting the game’s best chance in the 33rd minute, firing straight at Diogo Costa from a one-on-one situation.
Bruno worked hard on the other end, winning 100% of his tackles, registering a 93% pass accuracy rate, and generally stringing play together for his side, and with Joao Felix looking lively for Portugal on the left, Uruguay had a handful to deal with.
Joao’s long-range effort went wide, but it served as a warning shot for Uruguay from the 23-year-old Atletico Madrid star.
Portugal maintained possession but failed to create a clear-cut chance, while Uruguay struggled to gain control of the ball.
After a scoreless first half, Portugal coach Fernando Santos hoped his team could break the deadlock, and they did so nine minutes into the second half through Bruno. In second-half stoppage time, the Manchester United striker added a second.
Bruno’s first goal was initially credited to Cristiano Ronaldo, his former Manchester United teammate, but was later changed to Bruno.
In a breakaway move, Ronaldo attempted a glancing header but did not make contact, resulting in the ball ending up in the back of the nets after eluding Uruguay keeper Sergio Rochet’s reach. Ronaldo celebrated wildly, but the goal was officially credited to Bruno.
Uruguay, trailing by one goal, panicked and shifted gears, during which time they came close to scoring a few times, one of their efforts hitting the metal work. The Uruguay substitute deserves credit for changing the pace of the game. Uruguay had suddenly grabbed the bull by the horns and was taking the game to Portugal.
Maxi Gomez made an unforgettable entrance. After receiving a pass on the edge of the box, his first effort curled past a flailing Diogo Costa under the Portugal bar, only to see the ball bounce off the right upright and away. That was the closest Uruguay came to tying the game.
Portugal celebrated the goal with a second one through a controversial injury-time penalty which was awarded after VAR review.
Following a VAR review, Portugal was awarded a penalty. Jose Maria Gimenez handled himself after being nutmegged by Bruno. Totally unintentional, but it has been given “The guy’s literally putting his hand down to cushion his fall,” and this is not the first time VAR has been found wanting on penalties.
With Ronaldo replaced, it was Bruno who stepped up to take the spot kick, he made a little skip in the air and just waited for Sergio Rochet to fall to the left and stroked it to the right. A very comfortable strike into the the back of the net, 2-0.
Bruno then had a chance to complete his hat trick, but his effort in the eight minutes of stoppage time fell short.
Former winners and hosts of the first edition of the football showpiece event Uruguay, who drew with South Korea in their first match, now have just one point from two matches and face Ghana in their final match. Earlier in the day, the African team defeated South Korea 3-2 in a five-goal thriller.
The match featured five players aged 35 and up, the most in a World Cup match in history: Pepe (39), Cristiano Ronaldo (37), Diego Godin (36), Luis Suarez (35) and Edinson Cavani (35).
Source:TS
