Portugal vs Czechia 2-1

Portugal faced off against Czechia in a thrilling match that ended with a 2-1 victory for the Portuguese side. The game was highly anticipated, as both teams were evenly matched and had strong players on their rosters.

The first half of the match was intense, with both teams showing great skill and determination. Portugal managed to take the lead early on with a goal from their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Czechia fought hard to equalize, but Portugal's defense held strong and prevented any goals from being scored.

Francisco Conceicao smashed home an injury-time winner to rescue all three points in Portugal’s Euro 2024 opener in a game that looked destined for a draw against a dogged Czech Republic side.

After a goalless first half, Lukas Provod put the underdogs ahead from outside the penalty area with a scorching shot worthy of the quickly bulging goal-of-the-tournament shortlist, after Portugal had dominated proceedings virtually from kick-off.

The Czechs had stunned the Portuguese fans packed inside the Leipzig Stadium when they took the lead out of the blue in the 62nd minute as Lukás Provod's superb curling effort threatened to cause an almighty upset.

Yet the unfortunate Hranac scored an own goal seven minutes later to set up a frantic finish that saw Portugal claim the three points to leave them level in the group with Turkey who beat Georgia 3-1 earlier on Tuesday.

After scoring his decisive goal, Porto attacker Conceição wheeled away in delight and was booked for taking off his jersey. His goal comes almost 24 years to the day since his father, Sérgio Conceição, scored a hat trick to knock defending champion Germany out of Euro 2000.

And a laser-guided Fernandes pass and a Ronaldo run behind the Czech defence could have yielded a goal. Stanek made a fine save, rendering it irrelevant if, as looked likely, Ronaldo was just offside. Stanek then parried a Ronaldo shot on the turn. He got to a free kick, but it was a tame effort, lacking Ronaldo’s usual power. In fine form, the goalkeeper also denied Bernardo Silva.

Yet one of his saves led to the equaliser. Nuno Mendes’s header was parried by Stanek, struck the luckless Hranec and bounced in. It was a sign that Portugal could prevail by crossing, by getting players into the box. The formula produced two more goals: one disallowed, the other permitted and greeted raucously. For Ronaldo, closer in age to Conceicao senior than junior, the generation game made him a winner.

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Sarah H

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