The Portuguese controlled 74% of the ball, and found themselves 1-0 down after the only shot on target came from the Czechs… snatching the win in extra time.
Our analysis and the most beautiful pictures of the meeting.
The Portuguese fans in Leipzig must have thought they were reliving Greece's nightmare of 2004, when the Czechs scored in the 62nd minute with their only shot on target of the match.
At this point, we're not far from the perfect heist; In fact, from the start of the match, the Lusitanians dominated the debate (74% possession), their opponents playing with a low, compact lineup and hoping they could launch one or two counter-attacks.
Despite the great dominance, the Seleção players were unable to score during the first half (sometimes due to inaccuracy, or due to goalkeeper Stanek falling behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the 32nd and 45th positions).
At the beginning of the second quarter, the Portuguese's patience began to wear thin, and the Czechs began to believe in their chances. The 62nd minute also confirms their idea (thanks to Provod's shot from 20 metres)
After ten minutes of hesitation and inconvenience on the part of the Portuguese team, we play the 69th minute when Vitinha's cross is headed by Nuno Mendes, and Stanek pushes the ball into the legs of his defender Hranac, who scores against his team!
The game then gets crazy, and Cristiano Ronaldo's teammates keep accelerating, even thinking about doing the hard part when they receive a cross from Cancelo, CR7 heads the ball against the post and Diogo Jota scores. But the VAR intervenes to indicate that the captain is offside by a few centimetres!
While everyone believes in a draw, it is Conceição who will save his teammates in stoppage time, taking advantage of an unlucky Hranac error in the area.
Portugal won their first match after the thriller, a difficult but deserved success.
Roy Fernandez
(Reuters photos)
Leipzig, Red Bull Arena: Portugal defeats the Czech Republic 2-1 (0-0)
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Ruben Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes (Pedro Neto (90th); Diogo Dalot (Gonzalo Inacio (63rd), Vitinha (Conceição (90th), Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo (Nelson Semedo (90th); Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo) (Cap) ), Rafael Leao (Diogo Jota (63). Enter: Martinez.
Czech Republic: Stanek; Holz (Shori 90), Hranac, Krejci, Koval; Provod (Barak 79th), Soucek, Sulc (Sevcik 79th), Dodera, Cech (Chytil 60th), Kuchta (Linger 60th). Enter: Hasek.
