Bruno Fernandes scored two goals for Portugal on Monday as they qualified for the knockout round of the World Cup in 2022.
In a hard-fought game at Lusail Stadium, Fernandes made the key difference for Portugal as they needed to win against Ghana in their final game to have any chance of making the next stage.
Player ratings, best and worst performers, highlights and notable moments, post match quotes, and key statistics are included in the jump.
While France and Brazil are considered to be the favorites to win the World Cup, nobody should underestimate thePortugal team.
They were able to win without relying on the goals of a single player. A last-minute strike that hit the post would have made him the first player to score a hat trick in the country.
One of the Portugal players who are stars in their own right but too often overshadowed by the other player is Fernandes. Portugal has a number of top-class defenders such as Joao Felix and Ruben Dias.
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Portugal's only international success to date was at Euro 2016 and they are always a threat to more fancied nations.
Portugal are a team to be avoided by the top sides because they are capable of beating anyone and could go all the way this time around.
He hasn't scored over 800 goals without an intense desire to stick the ball into the net, but he went as far as trying to sneakily claim one he didn't score.
He became the first player to score in five World Cup tournaments when he netted a penalty for Portugal in their opening game.
He tried to prevent the opening goal of the game from being scored by celebrating as though he had headed the ball.
His reaction suggested that he had delivered the crucial touch, even though there seemed to be little contact from his head. A number of replays showed that the ball was not diverted into the net.
When the big screens in the Lusail Stadium announced that Fernandes had been awarded the goal,Ronaldo's reaction was caught on camera: He was looking at the screen and giving what appeared to be a nervous laugh of trying to mask his disappointment.
It was similar to what he looked like when he was taken out of the game.
Uruguay is blessed with world-class football talent which has always been disproportionately high for its population of just 3.5 million.
When their great attacking players don't dominate the game, they can sometimes rely on a more physical approach to get a result against teams like Portugal.
This was one of the times when manager Diego Alonso's players tried to kill the game with late challenges, shirt tugs and a general sense of over physicality. The spot on the penalty was guarded from the players from the other team.
Many of the players who have succeeded at Europe's major clubs over the years are due to the combination of tenacity and ability of the players from Uruguay.
Despite a late flurry of attacks when chasing the game, Uruguay played it as if they were content with a draw and tried to get the point by crossing the line. The two men were issued yellow cards, but were not sent off for more fouls.
It is a pity to see a team of such talent perform in a negative way, especially when they have the players to beat any side on their day.
Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes, and Joao Felix are all from Portugal.
Subs: Joao Palhinha 6, Raphael Guerreiro 6, and others.
Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez both had 6.
Subs: Luis Suarez 6.
The goal that decided the game was scored by the Manchester UnitedMidfielder.
When he tried to claim a goal that wasn't his, he caught the attention of everyone.
In the 54th minute, the game-changing goal was scored. The ball bounced into the back of the net after being launched into the box by Bruno Fernandes.
After he was credited with the goal, he missed the ball, and the goal was credited to the other person. The goal was scored by Fernandes.
Does Ronaldo get a touch on this goal? pic.twitter.com/SdW0v6NjCZ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 28, 2022
The man wasn't finished.
A somewhat dubious penalty was awarded to Portugal when Luis Suarez fell to the ground and the ball brushed past his hand after he put his arm out. After a video review, the referee decided it was a mistake.
A penalty is awarded to Portugal for this handball pic.twitter.com/FyG8XT9Fjg
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 28, 2022
Bruno said that they were happy with the victory even if they didn't score. We achieved our goal and will be in the next round. I celebrated the opener as if it was the goal of the Portuguese player. I thought he had touched the ball. My goal was to hit the ball in his direction.
"I think it was a great match, our team played very well and the rest for me doesn't matter."
It was a deserved win. The team did what it was told to do. We are through to the next stage. We have to keep improving what we have to improve on. I told my players at halftime that they needed to show up with confidence. We need to pick it up. There was some fatigue but there are 26 of them and they can play. We won and we won well.
The game against South Korea is over and we are qualified. I'm going to think about these things tomorrow.
Bruno was the first player to score a goal in the World Cup.
Four of the five goals scored by Portugal have been scored by Fernandes.
South Korea will face Portugal at 10 a.m. on Friday. There is an hour and a half later. Portugal qualified for the knockout round thanks to their win over the South American country.
The two countries will play at 10 a.m. on Friday. The group stage will be closed by 10:00. They need to win against Ghana and see if the other Group H game helps them.
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