CRISTIANO RONALDO’s Portugal kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign with a late comeback win!
Ronaldo started for Portugal and became the first player to appear in six European Championships.
But Roberto Martinez’s side needed a 92nd minute winner from super-sub Francisco Conceicao to seal three vital points.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST
- TV channel/ live stream: BBC One/ BBC iPlayer
- Portugal XI: Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Dalot, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes; Leao, Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo
- Czech Rep XI: Stanek; Holes, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Soucek, Provod, Sulc, Doudera; Kuchta, Schick
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That’s all from Leipzig
And the end of another dramatic day at Euro 2024.
We may have only had two matches to enjoy, but they served up stunners and storyline by the bucketload.
Wins for Portugal and Turkey have them in charge of Group F yet it could all change in the coming days as the tournament takes in Matchday Two.
We’ll be back for three more matches tomorrow that include a chance for Scotland to make amends for their awful opener when they face Switzerland in Cologne.
See you then. Goodnight.
Hasek hails ‘dangerous’ old goat
Czech Republic head coach Ivan Hasek was incredibly disappointed that his young side couldn’t make it through to the final whistle without conceding a winner.
However, magnanimous in defeat, the 60-year-old took time in his press conference to praise the record-breaking Cristiano Ronaldo, who played and threatened for the whole match at the age of 39.
It is really unbelievable how dangerous a player Cristiano Ronaldo is in every game at his age. He showed his genius again, he knows how to get involved in chances. My hat goes off to him; he is one of the best players in football history. Truly a fabulous man.
Ivan Hasek
Euro 2024 going the distance
Lukás Provod sensational opening goal for the Czech Republic this evening was the 11th scored from outside the box at this European Championship.
The 11 goals – many of them stunners – is a total just one fewer than the amount of long range efforts scored in the entire group stage at the 2020 finals (12).
Portugal up and running in F
They left it late, but Portugal secure a huge three points to move level with Turkey at the top of Group F.
The frontrunners face each other in Dortmund on Saturday while Czech Republic and Georgia will be hoping to kickstart their campaigns in Hamburg.
Credit: uefa.com Conceicao makes his mark
Francisco Conceicao’s introduction as the clock raised 90 minutes raised eyebrows from many who wanted Roberto Martinez to make attacking alterations much earlier in the game.
But just 111 seconds later, the Portugal head coach was vindicated and his 21-year-old substitute was in dreamland.
In the process, Conceicao became the first Portugal player to score as a substitute at the European Championship since Eder’s winner in extra-time of the 2016 final.
Match stats from Leipzig Stadium
Czech Republic took the lead when scoring with their only shot on target, but soon succumbed to Portugal and their 707 passes.
Full time – Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic
Portugal prevail in a game that came to life in the last half hour.
For an hour, the Selecao failed to break down the Czech Republic despite plenty of possession, and then were stunned into life by Lukas Provod’s stunner.
And even then, the Portuguese needed a helping hand to get them going, literally in the case of Jindrich Stanek, who spilled the ball on to his own defender’s shin for an own goal.
Portugal kept searching for a winner, and eventually it came in dramatic style in stoppage time, young sub Francisco Conceicao thumping in at the near post.
Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic
90+4. Lingr has the Leipzig Stadium holding its breath with seconds left on the clock…
…but before he can loop his header agonisingly wide, he is flagged for offside.
That will be enough for Portugal.
Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic – Conceicao yellow card
90+3. Twenty-one-year-old substitute Francisco Conceicao was booked for his celebrations in removing his shirt after scoring.
I don’t think he’s going to care one bit.
Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic
90+2. Unbelievable!
On the pitch for little over 100 seconds, and young Francisco Conceicao has won it for the Portuguese!
Another sub in Pedro Neto makes it, bursting down the left, sitting down his marker, and fizzing in a low cross.
It takes a touch off one defender, and that’s enough to befuddle Robin Hranac.
The Czech centre-back slips, and inadvertently tees it perfectly into the path of Conceicao, who slams it straight back under Jindrich Stanek.
What a moment for the youngster!
Won at the death!
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic – Portugal triple substitution
90. The Czechs will have four further minutes to hold on for
Meanwhile, young Francisco Conceicao is on for his competitive debut in stoppage time as one of three last-gasp Portugal subs.
Also on for the Selecao are Nelson Semedo and Pedro Neto; off go Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
87. Ronaldo against the post! Jota header! Goal!
Portugal have turned it around thanks to their super sub!
The Portuguese players, fans and staff celebrate wildly but…
…but…
…but there is a goal check going on for a possible offside.
And it doesn’t take long at all with the semi-automated decisions at these finals.
The goal is chalked off after Ronaldo drifted ahead of his marker as the cross came in from the right.
We remain all-square at 1-1 with three minutes to go.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
85. A crunching tackle from Mendes put the ball out play and knocks the wind from the sails of Coufal.
You don’t get this at the London Stadium, he thinks.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
83. It’s been a while since we’ve seen it, but there’s the classic Cristiano tantrum.
Hands up in the air and then thrown downwards in frustration after he failed to get a pass from his teammate.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
81. A half-chance for the Czechs!
Substitute Sevcik quickly finds himself with room on his left foot in the box, but the snapshot is blocked by Dias.
Following up, Soucek is off target with the rebound.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic – Czechia double substitution
79. Another two switches for the Czechs.
Among those departing is goalscorer Lukas Provod, along with Pavel Sulc.
The oncoming Petr Sevcik and Antonin Barak will have some work to do in the final ten minutes plus.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
77. Vitinha works Stanek again with a fizzer from long range.
It’s fierce, it’s low and it skids off the surface in front of the Czech goalkeeper, who does the right thing in turning it behind.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
75. Many of these Czech players are flagging, and that’s unsurprising given how much of the game they have played out of possession.
Quarter of an hour remains.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
73. A welcome moment for Stanek, who shows a safe pair of hands in dealing with a Bernardo Silva effort.
The goalkeeper has done well this evening, but will undoubtedly dwell on that single error.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
71. The own goal may be just the inspiration that Portugal needed.
From looking flat after the Czech opener, the Selecao have a new lease of life, pouring forward at every opportunity.
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic
69. The Czech Republic lead did not last long – and they only have themselves to blame.
Nuno Mendes heads down a right-wing cross at the far post, and it should be meat and drink for Jindrich Stanek.
However, the goalkeeper fails to grasps the ball fully in the wet conditions, instead pushing it up and on to the shin of the unwitting Robin Hranac.
The ball bounces up off the defender, over Stanek and into the inviting net.
Level in Leipzig!
All square!
Portugal 0-1 Czech Republic
67. Among the Portuguese fans in the stadium, we may have just seen the first tears of Euro 2024. Somewhat premature.
Meanwhile, Provod’s goal was already the 11th from outside the penalty area at these finals.
Portugal 0-1 Czech Republic – Portugal double substitution
64. Roberto Martinez responds to the goal with a double change of his own.
Liverpool Diogo Jota and Goncalo Inacio are on for Rafa Laeo and Diogo Dalot.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
