Checkmate two minutes from 90. Spain Portugal out of Nations League semi-finals
The Portuguese football team was excluded from the final four of the League of Nations this Tuesday, after losing 1-0 to Spain, in a match of the sixth and round of Group A2, at Estádio Municipal de Braga.
With the game well defined, the Portuguese teams reached the interval without gaps. Guard Unai Simón and several goals to Cristiano Ronaldo Jota.
Two minutes later, after a cross from the right header, Nico Williams won a Cancelo at the far post and cushioned Morata, finishing unmarked. The first goal of the game was scored, in favor of the Spaniards.
Portugal, winner in June 2019, just needs to seal with Spain, a place in the final four of the third edition of 2023, with Spain, Croatia, Italy and the Netherlands.
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In the 5th minute, Ronaldo shot over, but William Carvalho was also flagged for an irregular position. Joao Cancelo’s nonsense in the 8th minute, with the ball left for the Spaniards. It was worth Danilo to avoid the worst with a cut at the right time.
A minute later, Diogo Jota appears in a good position for the goal, but sees his deflection intercepted by Hugo Guillamón. After the first quarter of an hour of play, Portugal is finally rebelling against Spanish pressure and getting some possession of the ball.
The most dangerous situation of the game comes in the 21st minute, with Ronaldo and Danilo trying to score in a rebound. Shortly after, the Portuguese captain falls in the Spanish penalty area, but the start is just signaling. Two minutes later there’s a great shot from Rúben Neves stopped by a good save by Unai Simón.
In the 28th minute, Rúben Dias manages to head in from a corner, to the far post, but the ball goes over. After half an hour of play, Portugal made a dangerous counterattack. In this move, Diogo Jota made a good reception and shot hard, but Unai Simón stopped the ball in the air and threw it into the corner.
Ten minutes from the break, Portugal is installed in the Spanish midfield. In the 37th minute, Bruno Fernandes made a good shot from afar and gave the sensation of a goal because the ball hit the side nets, but went wide. Duration time gives one minute of compensation. Break in Braga!
Restart the game. The first dangerous move came a minute later, with Simón denying Ronaldo the goal. The Spanish goalkeeper starts to be one of the great figures of the game. At 55 minutes into the game, Fernando Santos puts Rafael Leão, Vitinha, João Mário and Ricardo Horta on for years.
Soler, with plenty of room for a shot, shoots close to Diogo Costa’s goal. In the 66th minute, Ronaldo started on the counterattack, but missed the pass to Bruno Fernandes and Spain regained possession. Two minutes later, Bruno Fernandes shot inside the area, with a lot of danger, but a strange corner makes a miraculous cut to the corner.
In the 77th minute, double substitution in the Portuguese team: Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva leave and Rafael Leão and João Mário enter. João Félix and João Palhinha are also preparing to enter in the last minutes of the game. Three minutes from 90, Morata opens the scoring for the Spaniards.
The five-minute duration before the end of the game. The game is over. Portugal is out of the League of Nations.
Eleven from Portugal: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Danilo and Nuno Mendes; Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Neves and William Carvalho; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota.
Eleven from Spain: Unai Simón; Carvajal, Guillamón, Pau Torres and Gayà; Soler, Rodri and Koke; Ferran Torres, Morata and Sarabia.
Substitutes from Portugal: Rui Patrício, José Sá (GK), Diogo Dalot, Tiago Djaló, João Palhinha, Ricardo Horta, Matheus Nunes, Rafael Leão, Vitinha, João Mário, Mário Rui and João Félix.
Substitutes from Spain: Robert Sánchez, David Raya (GK), Nico Williams, Borja Iglesias, Sergio Busquets, Marcos Llorente, Gavi, Asensio, Yeremi Pino, Diego Llorente, Jordi Alba and Pedri.