Azerbaijan almost stunned the reigning European champions Portugal in a World Cup qualification match played on Wednesday, March 24.
The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo was actively involved in the game almost did not change much throughout 90 minutes of football. Azerbaijan slipped before Portugal could have a reason to celebrate in the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo tried all he could to give his national team the maximum three points but his effort could not go beyond Azerbaijan’s goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev.
The goalkeeper stopped all the attempts the star-studded Portuguese team made but his defender, Maksim Medvedev, made a mess of one of his saves which bounced off his hands to the chest of the defender and then into the net.
🔎 | FOCUS
— SofaScore (@SofaScoreINT) March 24, 2021
Although Azerbaijan suffered a 1:0 loss to Portugal, their goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammedeliyev produced a brilliant performance:
⏱️ 90' played
🧤 14 saves
📥 6 saves from inside the box
🥊 2 punches
⚔️ 2/2 duels won
📈 9.7 SofaScore rating
👏👏#PORAZE #WCQ pic.twitter.com/4CwOI5lXIh
The own goal which was scored in the 37th minute was all Portugal needed to secure a win which placed them second on the Group A World Cup qualification table with three points. They are behind first placed Serbia due to superior goals difference.
Meanwhile, reigning World Cup champions, France, could not win over Ukraine in their World Cup qualifying match played on Wednesday.
Though they started the game like a house on fire, thanks to the stunning goal Antoine Griezmann scored, wrong-footed France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris allowed Ukraine to equalize via Serhiy Sydorchuk’s deflected shot.
Even the introduction of Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial could not help France to grab the maximum three points and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The most stunning match of the World Cup qualification series on Wednesday was the game involving Netherlands and Turkey. Football fans across the world expected the Dutch team to win the Turkish team but to the disappointment of many, the reverse was the case.
Turkey came into the game more determined than the Dutch team and ended the game with 4 goals against Netherlands’ 2 goals.
The 4-2 victory over the Netherlands placed Turkey on the second spot on the Group G World Cup qualification table behind first placed Norway. While Netherlands are currently sitting on the 5th spot in the group of 6 national teams.
#WCQ – HALFTIME:
— Elites Sport (@elites_sport) March 24, 2021
Belgium 2-1 Wales
France 1-0 Ukraine
Serbia 1-1 Republic of Ireland
Portugal 1-0 Azerbaijan
Slovenia 1-0 Croatia
Gibraltar 0-2 Norway pic.twitter.com/NoBJ3kaQWe
