Qatar November 29, 2022: This match had resembled a chess match in the first-half and, while Portugal did ultimately outmanoeuvre Uruguay with some ease, this was further evidence that the identity of their on-field king is changing.
Bruno Fernandes was not just the scorer here of two controversial goals to seal Portugal’s second win and place in the last-16 but, after also providing two assists in the 3-2 win over Ghana, he was again the heartbeat of the team.
Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo looked happier than anyone in Lusail to see Portugal progress with the luxury of a game to spare - and he left the pitch arm-in-arm with his former Manchester United team-mate - but must surely know that the days of talismanic solo achievements are fading.
That was discovered in some acrimony at Old Trafford and Portugal’s hopes of realising their World Cup ambitions may yet depend on how Ronaldo continues to accept that evolving status.
In contrast to Fernandes’s persistent influence, Ronaldo had offered only occasional sparks of quality and, whisper it quietly, there was rather more attacking pace and movement when he was replaced after 82 minutes.
A further fascinating subplot here was the way in which both Fernandes and Ronaldo reacted to Portugal’s first goal. Ronaldo was quick to claim a touch on his friend’s chipped cross but, despite replays later suggesting that there was no contact, Fernandes seemed like he would have been genuinely happy to hand over the goal. “I don’t really think it matters who scored - the feeling I had at the time was that Cristiano touched the ball - I was passing the ball to him,” he said.
It was later noticeable that Portugal manager Fernando Santos was just a little more effusive in praising the performance of his captain over the man who had scored both goals.
“It is a result of the team’s work - I don't think we should be focussed on one player,” he said, when asked for an assessment of Fernandes, the man of the match.
And what of Ronaldo? “He played a great game - they all played a great game,” said Fernandes.
Portugal had been eliminated at the last World Cup in Russia by the same opponent and, while there was considerable fortune here in the second goal - when referee Alireza Faghani seemingly failed to apply the handball law even with the benefit of VAR - they do have the air of contenders.
Uruguay, by contrast, have struggled to replace players whose best years are in the past and, having reached a World Cup quarter-final and semi-final in their last three World Cups, must now beat Ghana in the final group game to survive.
Danilo Pereira’s unexplained rib fracture had earlier meant the return of Pepe to Portugal’s defence to become not just his country’s oldest World Cup player but the second oldest outfield player of all-time after Roger Milla. Pepe, who will turn 40 early next year, duly nullified both Edinson Cavani and later Luis Suarez.
Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur had provided easily the most eye-catching first-half moment but, after a slaloming Maradona-esque dribble through Portugal’s defence, was denied perhaps the goal of this World Cup so far by Costa’s midriff.
Play was then briefly halted early in the second-half when a protester breached the pitchside security and ran onto the pitch with a rainbow flag and a Superman T-shirt with ‘Save Ukraine’ on the front and ‘Respect for Iranian Women’ on the back. He was swiftly rugby-tackled to the floor and then led down the tunnel but the photographs of his protest - and various messages - were soon public.
It seemed to most impact Uruguay’s concentration and their early good defensive work was soon outdone. In misjudging a lofted ball into the penalty by Fernandes, Guillermo Varelo played Ronaldo onside and just his leap was sufficient to distract goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
Fernandes then finally put the game beyond Uruguay in added time after darting into the penalty area and playing the ball between the legs of Jose Gimenez. The Uruguay defender had lunged forward for his attempted tackle, with his trailing hand then slowing the ball in its return to Fernandes. Portugal appealed and, after consulting the video replays, referee Faghani pointed to the spot even though the rules state that it is only an offence if an arm is used to enlarge rather than support the body. Fernandes was clinical from the penalty spot and later also only denied a World Cup hat-trick by the width of the post.
Portugal 2 Uruguay 0
Related Posts
