All of a sudden, Czechia are on top.
It’s amazing what one moment can do. Portugal just look shellshocked, they can’t keep the ball anymore.
If they want something from this game, they need to clear their heads… and quickly.
Seven minutes is all it took!
And it’s a gift for Portugal, wrapped up beautifully by Jindrich Stanek – the Czechia keeper.
The ball is headed across goal by Nuno Mendes, and for some reason Stankek palms it straight into Robin Hranac rather than holding onto it.
It bounces straight off the defender and into the net. Poor, very poor.
Czechia’s goalscorer is being hooked.
Well, maybe the term ‘hooked’ is too harsh, but anyway, he is off the pitch and has been replaced by Antonin Barak.
Petr Sevcik has also come on.
DIOGO JOTA HAS SURELY WON IT!
Oh wait, VAR is checking for offside, and I think this could be called off for offside on Cristiano Ronaldo…
Wow, that was quick!
It takes just one minute for the goal to be ruled out for offside, and it seems Cristiano Ronaldo just strayed too far.
The ball was played over to Ronaldo who headed onto the post before Digo Jota fired in the rebound with his head.
But it won’t count. Fine, fine margins.
The final throw of the dice from Roberto Martinez.
Both Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo have come on for the final moments looking to make an impact.
Porto star Fransisco Conceicao also comes into the fray.
Is it too late?
IT WASN’T BUT THIS IS!
There is no way that one is being chalked off, Fransisco Conceicao has won it at the death for Portugal.
He pounces on a mistake and smashes home from close range to send the Portugal fans into raptures.
What a debut for the youngster, he takes his shirt off and goes crazy.
Portugal get over the line… just!
Portugal probed and prodded without success for so long, but right at the death, they managed to nick all three points.
It’s devastating for Czechia, they thought they had done enough to earn themselves a precious point.
But football always throws in a bit of drama, and just three minutes after coming on, Fransisco Conceicao saved Portugal’s blushes.
This tournament just keeps on throwing up brilliant moments.
As soon as the referee blew the opening whistle, Portugal immediately attacked with the hope of getting an early goal. On the day that went down in Euro history, Ronaldo threatened the Czech Republic’s goal with a header in the 8th minute, but the ball did not hit the target.
That ball seemed to give the Portuguese players more mental strength to destroy the Czech defense, and the player who stood out was Rafael Leao.
On the day he was side by side with his elder brother Ronaldo, the Milan star stirred up the left wing with his speedy and technical climbs, however, Leao alone was not enough to penetrate the dense defense. of the Czech Republic.
On the Czech Republic’s side, coach Ivan Hasek’s team looked forward to boundary shooting situations, but they were powerless against the defense led by veteran Pepe, and the first half ended with no goals scored. .
Entering the second half, the game did not change much as Roberto Martinez’s army continued to take control. However, while still struggling to find a goal, Portugal had to pay the price when Lukas Provod of the Czech Republic conceded the goal with a beautiful finish in the 62nd minute.
However, it didn’t take too long for “Selecao Europe” to equalize after defender Lukas Provod’s ungainly own goal.
In the remaining time, Portugal attacked with all its might in search of victory. After Diogo Jota’s “missed goal”, Portuguese fans were truly in the clouds with a goal from young star Francisco Conceicao, thereby helping Portugal complete an emotional comeback with a score of 2. -first.
3 points Portugal got off to a good start in Group F of Euro 2024, however, they still have to rank behind Türkiye due to poor secondary difference.