PORTUGAL put on a late flurry in their Euro 2020 opener with Hungary and won 3-0 in Budapest thanks to two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals.
Raphael Guerreiro scored first before Ronaldo notched from the spot then rounded off a brilliant passing move to bury the Hungarians in their own backyard.
- RESULT: Hungary 0 Portugal 3
- Hungary XI: Gulcasi, Szalai, Fiola, Orban, Nagy, Szalai A., Schaefer, Lovrencsics, Kleinheisler, Sallai, Botka
- Portugal XI: Patricio, Semedo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro, Carvahlo, Danilo, Bruno Fernandes, B Silva, Ronaldo, Jota
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THAT’S ALL FOR NOW!
It was the Cristiano Ronaldo show once again as the star made history in Portugal’s victory.
Hungary are next in action when they take on France at 2pm on Saturday, with Portugal against Germany following at 5pm.
Ronaldo now needs just four goals to become the all-time top scorer in men’s international football. You wouldn’t bet against him doing it this summer.
.Credit: EPA DOWN BUT NOT DISHEARTENED
A few quotes coming out of the Hungary camp.
Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi said: “With a little luck, we could have even scored a point. That would have been a great thing. We will try again on Saturday.”
Szabolcs Schon said: “My childhood dream of being able to enter the European Championship in front of 65,000 spectators came true.”
Attila Szalai added: “I’m disappointed because not much was missing to score. We worked well, this defeat is annoying. We fought hard, we slipped, we climbed.”
.Credit: EPA G NEV – RONALDO OBSCENE
Gary Neville has been waxing lyrical about Cristiano Ronaldo on ITV.
The former Manchester United defender said: “It’s an obscene record – 106 goals for his country is absolutely ridiculous.
“He continues to beat individual record after individual record.
He wants to be the best player in the world and seen as one of the greatest of all-time in terms of scoring more goals than anyone and he’ll go and do it.
“His physical shape is absolutely incredible.
“He’s adapted from being someone who sprinted from the left wing or the right wing.
“Now he’s not doing as much running in games and he’s not as explosive but he’s just basically a poacher.
“You wouldn’t traditionally think of him as a centre-forward but he’s now a striker and a brilliant goalscorer. There are no words left for him really.”
.Credit: AP
FT: HUNGARY 0-3 PORTUGAL
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the all-time highest goalscorer in European Championship history as Portugal’s late, late show sees the holders defeat a spirited Hungary side.
Portugal had to wait a long time to make the breakthrough with Raphael Guerreiro’s deflected effort wrong-footing Peter Gulacsi in the 85th minute.
Ronaldo doubled the lead from the spot two minutes later after Willi Orban pulled back Rafa Silva.
But Ronaldo still wasn’t done, dancing round the Hungary defence and Gulacsi to grab his second and Portugal’s third in injury time.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!HUNGARY 0-3 PORTUGAL
90+2. It’s Ronaldo again. He plays a couple of one-twos, goes around Gulacsi and slots into an empty net.
GGGGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL PORTUGAL!
HAVE YOUR SAY
HUNGARY 0-2 PORTUGAL
87. Orban pulls back Rafa and Ronaldo drills home the spot-kick to score international goal number 105. He’s now the first player to score in 10 successive tournaments and the all-time European Championship goalscorer.
GGGGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL PORTUGAL!
PENALTY TO PORTUGAL!
HUNGARY 0-1 PORTUGAL
85. Silva gets into space down the right and crosses for Guerreiro. He takes a shot with the outside of his boot and it takes a wicked deflection off Orban to totally wrongfoot Gulacsi.
GGGGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL PORTUGAL
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
80. The stadium erupts as Schon fires home at the near post but the offside flag rules it out. Replays show he was miles off but it’s another example of the threat Hungary possess on the counter. What a moment that would have been had it counted.
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
77. More fresh legs for Hungary. Schon is on for Sallai and Siger for Kleinheisler.
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
76. Ronaldo, who has been very quiet in the second half, is convinced there was a handball by Fiola in the box but nothing is doing and rightly so.
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
73. Hungary pile forward and centre-back Attila Szalai nearly gets his head to two teasing crosses.
.Credit: AFP HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
70. Portugal make a change and it’s an injection of pace as Bernardo Silva is replaced by Rafa Silva.
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
68. Another great save by Gulacsi as he gets fingertips to a dipping Fernandes effort to push it behind.
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
65. Fernandes is played into a pocket of space on the edge of the box, but Orban is across to dispossess the midfielder. First change for Hungary as Schafer makes way for Nego.
HAVE YOUR SAY
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
61. Nagy has been excellent for Hungary. The hosts have arguably been the better side in the second half.
.Credit: AFP HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
57. The game is opening up. A loose ball runs to Sallai who fires in a left-footed zinger which is saved by Patricio. Szali and Dias are exchanging pleasantries as Hungary prepare to take a throw.
HUNGARY 0-0 PORTUGAL
55. Dias brushes his hand down Sallai’s face who goes down in apparent agony as the pair contest a header. Get up, man.
.Credit: AFP
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
