At 3:45 a.m. Beijing time on March 25, the Semi-Final of Group C of the World Preliminary European Zone Play-off: Portugal hosted Turkey. With a 2-1 home defeat at home to Serbia in the final round of the World Preliminary Round group stage, Portugal had no chance to qualify directly and could only play in the play-offs.
A total of 12 teams were shortlisted for the European Play-offs of the World Preliminary Tournament, divided into three groups of A, B and C, each group of 4 teams, according to the rules, every two teams first played a semi-final, the winner entered the final, and the final winner qualified for the 2022 World Cup.
In the campaign, Portugal started 433, C Ronaldo, Jota and Otavio formed a forward trident, midfielder B, Moutinho, B Fee, four defenders Guerrero, Fonte, Danilo Pereira, Dalot, goalkeeper Costa. The total value of the starting eleven is 370 million euros.
Turkey started 442, Ilmaz, Yundel double forwards, midfielders Akturkoglu, Charkhanoglu, Kokku, Selik, four defenders Kutru, Seyunju, Demiral, Kabak, goalkeeper Chakir. The starting eleven are worth a total of 210 million euros.
After the match opened, Portugal attacked. In the first minute, Dalot's cross from the right was met by Ronaldo's header from inside the penalty area, blocked by Selik, and the two collided head-on.
In the 9th minute, Dalot's cross from the right was met by C Ronaldo in the penalty area and shot high.
In the 11th minute, Fu Taoya set-piece on the right side of the field, B Fei passed to the penalty area, and shot high in front of the goal of Ruota.
In the 12th minute, the ball was sent out of portugal, and C Ronaldo took the ball at the top of the arc and shot at the goal, which was confiscated by the goalkeeper.
In the 15th minute, Moutinho was directly blocked in the middle of the road, C Ronaldo crossed in the penalty area, Jota then passed to the top of the arc, B seat shot at the neutral post, Otavio followed up in time to make up for it, and the ball was scored! Portugal leads Turkey 1-0.
In the 21st minute, Danilo Pereira made a mistake at the back and Yundel broke the ball and fired a long-range shot at a wide angle that was confiscated by Costa.
In the 22nd minute, Char khanoglu was directly blocked in the middle, Yundel crossed from the left and Kutru's header was deflected into the top corner.
In the 25th minute, Dalot made a mistake at the back and Ilmaz took the ball and shot from a distance, which was deflected.
In the 42nd minute, Otavio's cross from the right was met by Jota's header from inside the penalty area. Portugal extended the score to 2:0.
After the start of the second half, Turkey stepped up its offensive.
In the 65th minute, Yunder and Irmaz combined perfectly at the top of the arc, and Irmaz pushed inside the penalty area and the ball was scored! Turkey chased the score to 1:2 and the game was in suspense again!
In the 81st minute, Wundt was fouled in the penalty area, the referee saw the VAR and awarded a penalty, Ilmaz took the penalty, but kicked away, missing the equalizer.
In the last minute of stoppage time, Portugal counter-attacked, Leo straight, Nunez scored the ball, Portugal 3:1 Turkey, the game has no suspense.
In the other semi-final of Group C, Italy lost 0-1 to North Macedonia. Portugal will then be battling North Macedonia for a place in the 2022 World Cup, and the prospects for entry are clearly up.