Published on : 15/06/2021 – 19:52Modified : 15/06/2021 – 19:55
Defending champions, Portugal did not have an easy game for their entry into Euro-2021. Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates won the victory only at the end of the game (0-3) against Hungary, the weakest opponent in Group F.
For their debut in Euro-2021, Portugal struggled against a rough Hungarian side. La Seleção, winner of the last tournament in 2016, only won in the last minutes (0-3), Tuesday, June 15, in Budapest. A score that does not represent the physiognomy of this meeting.
The Portuguese take control of the ball from the start. Opposite, the Hungarians chose the defense option. Facing the reigning European champions, they position themselves in their midfield and try to neutralize the Portuguese attacks.
Hostilities are open from the 5th minute with a first opportunity signed Diogo Jota on a counter-attack. Launched by Bruno Fernandes, the Liverpool player tries his luck at the entrance to the area, but it is rejected by Péter Gulácsi. In the 19th minute, on a nice pass from Pepe, star Cristiano Ronaldo continued alone against the Hungarian goalkeeper, but his shot was deflected. The referee had whistled offside. Ten minutes later, the Juventus Turin striker grazed the ball with his head on a cross at the far post from Bernado Silva, but it was off target.
Hungarian resistance
The Hungarians resist and even offer themselves a great opportunity. On a free kick, Adam Szalai heads towards the Portuguese goal, but Rui Patricio catches the ball. But the goal is clearly to defend. Five minutes from the break, Diogo Jota, served by Bernardo Silva in the box, strikes back to goal, but Péter Gulácsi once again pushes back his shot. Two minutes later, it was his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo who found himself alone against goal on a Bruno Fernandes cross, but his shot went over the Hungarian cage. The Seleção is showing itself more and more dangerous, but without succeeding in finding the fault.
At the start of the second half, the Portuguese returned with the same intentions. On a corner from Bruno Fernandes, Pepe took his head, but the Hungarian goalkeeper, decidedly impeccable, pushed back his fists (47th). For their part, the Magyars have more ambitions, led by Ádám Szalai, who tries a strike of more than 30 meters (50th). But Fernando Santos’ players put their foot on the ball. In the 68th minute, Bruno Fernandes strikes low in the axis. His shot is once again repelled by a Péter Gulácsi of the great evenings.
The Hungarians, however, scare their opponents on counters. Without complex, Attila Szalai, served in the box, gives himself a header on target, but without danger for Rui Patricio (73rd). The minutes go by and the Portuguese can’t find the key. In the 78th minute, the Magyars even believe they have secured the victory on a low strike from Szabolcs Schon which easily deceives the Portuguese goalkeeper, but he is flagged offside.
The light finally came for Raphaël Guerreiro’s Portugal in the 83rd minute. On a pass countered by Rafa Silva, the Borussia Dortmund player resumed. His shot was also blocked by Orban, before deceiving the Hungarian goalkeeper. Three minutes later, the Portuguese doubled the mark thanks to a penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo after a foul on Rafa Silva. The meeting changes. Against all expectations, the goals follow one another. Impeccably served in six meters by Rafa Silva, CR7 even offered a double in stoppage time, alone against Péter Gulácsi.
In a very tough Group F, this victory against Hungary, the weaker nation, was very important for Portugal. The other meeting will oppose Germany and France this evening.
.
