The Selacao of Portugal booked their round of 16 spot on Monday night with a revenge win over Uruguay, the team team that eliminated them from the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia ahead of their third game against South Korea.
A second-half double from Bruno Fernandes took Portugal into the Round of 16 at World Cup 2022 and left Uruguay’s hopes of joining them in progressing from Group H hanging by a thread.
Portugal had dominated possession and territory in the first half but without creating clear chances, the best coming early on from Ronaldo’s improvised shoulder layoff, William Carvalho unable to keep his volley down.
In contrast, Uruguay looked short of attacking threat but went closest to taking a first-half lead, Rodrigo Bentancur picking the ball up inside his own half and driving through the heart of the Portugal backline, only to shoot straight at Diogo Costa with just the goalkeeper to beat.
The pattern continued into the second period, Joao Felix firing into the side-netting after a swift break had allowed Portugal to outnumber their opponents, but Uruguay failed to heed the warning and duly fell behind a few moments later.
Fernandes was allowed the time to line up a cross on the left side and Ronaldo, played onside by Guillermo Varela, ghosted in to seemingly flick the ball past Sergio Rochet, although a subsequent review decided he had not touched the ball and awarded the goal to Fernandes instead.
Uruguay tried to up the pressure in response, Maxi Gomez curling against the upright after fine work from fellow substitute Facundo Pellestri, before Luis Suarez fired just wide from inside the area and Giorgian de Arrascaeta was denied by a diving Costa.
That was as good as it got for the South Americans, whose hopes were finally finished off in added time. A sliding Jose Maria Gimenez was adjudged, after a VAR check, to have handled as he challenged Fernandes, who duly sent Rochet the wrong way from the spot to wrap up Portugal’s win and place in the last 16.
The Manchester United midfielder twice went close to completing a hat-trick in the closing stages.
Uruguay’s hopes of joining their conquerors in progressing from Group H now depend on them beating Ghana in their final fixture and hoping South Korea do not do likewise against Portugal.
Goals:POR — Fernandes (54 mins)POR — Fernandes (90+3 mins)
Confirmed lineups:
Portugal (4-2-3-1, right to left): 22. Costa (GK) — 20. Cancelo, 3. Pepe, 4. Dias, 19. Mendes (5-Guerreiro 42′) — 14. Carvalho (6. Palhinha 82′), 18. Neves (15. Leao 69′) — 10. B. Silva, 8. B. Fernandes, 11. Felix (23. Nunes 82′) — 7. Ronaldo (26. Ramos 82′)
Uruguay (3-5-2, right to left): 23. Rochet (GK) — 19. Coates, 3. Godin (8. Pellistri 62′), 2. Gimenez — 13. Varela, 6. Bentancur, 15. Valverde, 5. Vecino (10. De Arrascaeta 62′), 16. Olivera (17. Vina 86′) — 11. Nunez (18. Gomez 72′), 21. Cavani (9. Suarez 72′)
By D. N. A. MENSAH || Daily Mail GH