In the early morning of September 9, Beijing time, the focus match of Group J of the European Cup qualifiers was played by the Portuguese men's football team away against the Slovakia men's football team. In the first half, Schranz hit the post, B Fei scored, and in the second half, Ronaldo kicked a foul and turned yellow, and finally Portugal defeated Slovakia 1-0 to win five consecutive European preliminary matches.
【Competition Focus】
First, Portugal became France the second team to start with a five-game winning streak and continue to lead the group standings with 15 points.
Second, Portugal became the only team to start with 5 consecutive wins + 0 goals conceded.
Third, Ronaldo completed his 201st appearance with the national team, continuing to set a new record in football history.
In the first four rounds, Portugal won consecutive wins against Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, and accumulated 12 points from four consecutive wins, ranking first in the group. In the last away game against Iceland, Cristiano Ronaldo reached the milestone of 200 games for the national team, and finally scored the only goal to help Portugal win 1-0, and this time away again, Ronaldo continued to start.
It was the second time the two teams met in a European Championship qualifier in 24 years, when Portugal beat Slovakia home and away. In the latest edition of the world rankings, Portugal is ranked 9th and Slovakia is 47th.
Portugal's squad is very luxurious, with the 38-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo continuing to start and captain the pitch, partnering Leo up front. Slovakia is in the 442 formation like Portugal, and the players have a good sense of position between each other, and are not afraid of Portugal's wing assault and bottom crosses, making it difficult for Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo to form a cooperation, while repeatedly using counterattacks to find scoring opportunities.
In the 12th minute, Schranz faced the goalkeeper with a single chance in front of the goalkeeper and did not stop the ball, and then Harraslin's shot was blocked by Dias, and Slovakia missed the opportunity.
In the 41st minute, Schranz received a score from a teammate in the penalty area and followed up with a powerful shot, the ball hit the post and popped up, and the Portuguese back line escaped again.
In the 43rd minute, B Fei burst into the box with the ball and slammed into the far corner of the goal, giving Portugal a 1-0 lead.
At the end of the first half, Portugal still led 1-0. From the statistical point of view, Portugal occupies the advantage of the scene, 63% possession, 6-4 shots on goal, 3-1 shots on target, 2-1 corner kicks, of course, thanks to the help of the upright, refusing Slovakia's goal.
Back on the pitch in the second half, Portugal's possession continued to remain above 60 per cent, with Cristiano Ronaldo at the front very hungry for the box, but the more he played, the more it didn't go well.
In the 61st minute, Portugal instigated an offensive on the wing and passed the ball into the box, Ronaldo did not kick the ball on goal, the ball was confiscated by goalkeeper Dubravka, Ronaldo did not close his foot in time, directly tackled on the goalkeeper, the referee took out a yellow card warning to the Portuguese superstar,
This yellow card allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to accumulate 3 yellows and miss the next round against Luxembourg.
In the 69th minute, B Fei scored the ball, Ronaldo shot from the penalty area line, the ball directly deflected off the bottom line, and Ronaldo also slapped his thigh depressed to vent his emotions.
As in the previous field, Ronaldo was very dissatisfied with his performance, and there was chagrin and disappointment.
In the match that followed, Slovakia faced Portugal's slow inability to extend the score and saw hope of equalising. In the end, it was still subject to the downside, and after a free kick was blocked, the score was locked at 0-1 and the home defeat.
Portugal starters: 22 Diogo Costa, 20 Cancelo, 3 Antonio Silva, 4 Ruben Dias, 19 Dalot, 6 Palinha, 8 B Fee, 10 B seats, 23 Vitinha, 17 Leo, 7 Ronaldo
Slovakia starters: 1 Dubravka, 2 Pekarik, 3 Vavro, 14 Škriniar, 16 Hanko, 19 Kutska, 22 Lobotka, 8 Duda, 18 Schrantz, 10 Polevka, 17 Harraslin