- Portugal secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Turkey, booking their place in the Euro 2024 knockout rounds.
- Bernardo Silva and Vitinha stood out with 8/10 ratings, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes also impressed.
Portugal secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Turkey at Signal Iduna Park, booking their place in the Euro 2024 knockout rounds. Goals from Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and a comical own goal from Samet Akaydin sealed the win for Roberto Martinez’s side.
Match Summary
First Half:
Turkey started the game with a high-intensity press, causing problems for Portugal’s defense. Kerim Akturkoglu missed a golden opportunity in the opening minutes, failing to direct his flick effort goalward from two yards out. This early chance set the tone for Turkey’s dominant start, with Portugal struggling to gain a foothold in the game.
However, Portugal weathered the storm and took the lead through Bernardo Silva’s first-ever international tournament goal. The diminutive midfielder wrapped his foot around a cut-back cross from Nuno Mendes, sweeping the ball into the right corner of the net. This goal marked a turning point in the game, as Portugal began to assert their control.
Things went from bad to worse for Turkey just eight minutes later, when a defensive calamity gifted Portugal a second goal. Samet Akaydin’s criminal no-look back pass rolled past the on-rushing Altay Bayindir and over his own goal line soon after. This own goal capped off a disastrous period for Turkey, who were left reeling after their bright start.
Second Half:
Portugal continued their dominance into the second half, capitalizing on yet more disastrous defending from Turkey to make it 3-0. Cristiano Ronaldo, played onside by a seemingly asleep Zeki Celik, raced clean through on goal before squaring to Bruno Fernandes for a simple tap-in.
After the third goal, it was plain sailing for Portugal, with Turkey rarely looking remotely capable of creating a chance. Martinez’s talented midfield bunch kept hold of the ball with relative ease, dictating the tempo of the game.
Player Ratings:
GK: Diogo Costa – 5/10
– Made three saves, but none of note.
RB: Joao Cancelo – 6/10
– Linked up well with Silva on the right flank, providing overlapping runs while Silva drifted infield.
CB: Pepe – 7/10
– Made a few crucial challenges when the game was level at 0-0.
CB: Ruben Dias – 6/10
– The Man City man didn’t have too much to do.
LB: Nuno Mendes – 7/10
– Set up Bernardo Silva’s goal and got forward well throughout.
CM: Vitinha – 8/10
– Won the midfield battle through powerful running, clever use of the ball, and some strong challenges. All-round good outing.
CM: Joao Palhinha – 6/10
– His inclusion in the starting lineup provided Portugal with much more balance in the middle of the park.
CM: Bruno Fernandes – 7/10
– Looked more comfortable in the midfield three. Scored in the second half too. Nice one.
RW: Bernardo Silva – 8/10
– Finally scored his first ever goal at an international tournament. Dictated the whole tempo of the game too. Top performance.
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo – 7/10
– Caused problems with his movement throughout and unselfishly teed up Fernandes for his goal in the second half.
LW: Rafael Leao – 3/10
– Booked once again for diving and is now set to miss the final game of the group stages.
Key Takeaways:
– Portugal’s midfield trio of Vitinha, Palhinha, and Fernandes controlled the game.
– Bernardo Silva’s goal and overall performance stood out.
– Turkey’s defensive errors cost them dearly.
– Cristiano Ronaldo’s movement and vision caused problems for Turkey’s defense.
– Portugal’s dominance in possession and chances created highlighted their superiority.
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