Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo missed four big chances for Portugal as the Selecao left it late to defeat the Czech Republic in the Euro 2024 opener.
Parading a good depth of talented and experienced players than their Czech Republic counterparts, the Selecao went into the game as favourites and started brilliantly with a dominant display.
Czech Republic were less impressive than their opponents from the start as they conceded possession to the dominant possessions.
Cristiano Ronaldo misses chances: Key moments in the match
Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo was close to giving Portugal the lead just 8 minutes into the game. Portugal teammate and AC Milan winger Raphael had crossed the ball into the box for the Manchester United legend, who rose high and attempted a header but failed to make contact with the ball perfectly. His header flew across the left side of the post.
In the 32nd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo was close again to giving Portugal the lead after the team wielded over 70% of the ball possession. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes had played in the Al-Nassr forward, who then fired a low attempt on goal. After not having to bother to save the first attempt by the forward, the Czechia goalkeeper had to make a save this time. He stopped the ball but his rebound failed for PSG star Vitinha who fired again on goal but the attempt was saved again.
Portugal’s ascendant run in the game was paused for a few minutes after Czech Republic’s Soucek pulled up with discomfort and was down on the field for a while.
AC Milan forward Raphael Leao was the first player to be booked on the game after he failed down easily from a weak challenge and was alleged to have dived.
Portugal were still putting up a stronger performance but the goal wasn’t coming. A few seconds before the first half was wrapped off, Cristiano Ronaldo missed another chance to give the team the lead. The 39-year-old made a potent attempt on goal with a good shot but was denied for the second time by the Czech Republic goalkeeper in the first 45 minutes.
With three missed chances by the Real Madrid legend, Portugal ended the first half without a goal despite dominating play from the start.
After being denied two times by the Czechia goalkeeper, Cristiano Ronaldo had another chance to put the prolific goalkeeper to test in the 58th minute with a freekick. He comfortably had the better of Czechia’s wall in the freekick but the goalkeeper was equal to the task, saving it comfortably at the centre of the goal.
Four minutes after Ronaldo’s freekick, the Czech Republic took an unlikely lead against the run of play. Provod scored for the underdogs.
After Provod’s goal, Portugal fought back quickly to find an equaliser. Nuno Mendes’ header had hit Czechia player Hranac and went into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
In his fourth miss, Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post with a header in the 87th minute before Diogo Jota fired home the rebound to give Portugal the lead but the goal was chalked off for offside after VAR check.
Czechia nearly held Portugal to a 1-1 draw before Portugal forward scored the match-winner in the second minute of stoppage-time to hand the Portuguese all three points at the death.
With the win, Portugal have three points the same as Türkiye in the group after the game. Türkiye had defeated Georgia 3-2 to win their opening match. Cristiano Ronaldo will hope to lead the team to victory in their next fixture against Türkiye. They are considered favourites to win the group and the clash against Türkiye on Saturday, June 22 will be significant in determining who wins the group.
