Ronaldo Frustrated As France Eliminate Portugal
15 November, 2020
UEFA Nations League
Result: Portugal 0-1 France
Date: 14 November 2020
Venue: Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a quiet evening as Portugal bowed from the UEFA Nations League after defeat to France on Saturday night.
Les Bleus were without star forward Kylian Mbappe due to injury, as Kingsley Coman, Anthony Martial and Antoine Griezmann lead the attack while Portugal recalled Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva.
The sides had early chances, as France shot-stopper Hugo Lloris made an excellent save to keep out Ronaldo's swerving strike in the fifth minute before Rui Patricio parried Coman's looping effort over the crossbar 5 minutes later.
Martial had an improved opportunity for the visitors in the 12th minute after going through inside box but his low point-blank range shot was saved by Patricio in a one-on-one situation.
Didier Deschamps' charges must have been ahead on the half-hour mark after a clever free-kick by Griezmann resulted in Adrien Rabiot having an over-head activate the centre of the box that Martial finished off with a header from close range but his effort came off the crossbar.
France had another big chance 5 minutes prior to the break after Lucas Hernandez whipped in a teasing cross in the six-yard box that Martial guided towards goal from close range but Patricio produced an oustanding save while Ronaldo came close on the stroke of half-time with a bullet header from a corner that missed slightly over the bar.
Les Bleus were under pressure in the first exchanges of the next stanza nonetheless they broke the deadlock eight minutes from the break after N'Golo Kante pounced on a rebound to fire right into a gaping net after Patricio spilled Rabiot's shot.
Jose Fonte came near snatching the equaliser on the hour-mark with a header at the back post that came off the upright from the rebound after Loris pulled off an excellent save to keep out Raphael Guerreiro's long-range strike.
As time passes running out, Joao Moutinho came very near levelling matters for Fernando Santos' troops within the last quarter of one hour with a first-time strike from the edge of the box that forced Lloris into stupendous save.
The visitors were lucky never to concede a penalty within the last 3 minutes after Hernandez clipped Francisco Trincao inside box however the Portuguese attacker stayed on his feet to chase a lost cause and that proved costly as France held to clinch the win and won the group with a match to spare, eliminating Portugal along the way.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za