Spain took the lead with a goal from Morata, but Portugal did not surrender and, in the second half, saw Horta score and tie the duel for the Nations League.
This Thursday, the 2nd, Spain and Portugal faced each other, at Benito Villamarín Stadium, in a game valid for the first round of the Nations League. And playing with their traditional exchanges of passes, Fúria managed to get ahead, still in the first half, with a goal from Morata after an excellent counterattack. But Portugal did not give up and, in the second stage, managed to draw with Ricardo Hortawho left the bench and became the unlikely hero of the Portuguese: 1 to 1!
RANKS:
SPAIN: Unai Simón, Azpilicueta, Diego Llorente, Pau Torres and Alba; Busquets, Soler and Gavi; Ferran Torres, Sarabia and Morata // PORTUGAL: Diogo Costa, Cancelo, Danilo, Pepe and Guerreiro; João Moutinho, Bruno Fernandes and Otávio; Rafa Silva, Bernardo Silva and André Silva.
CHANNEL – ATHLETISTIC:
THE GAME!
Playing at home, who started taking danger was Spain. Just two minutes into the ball rolling, Azpilicueta kicked over the mark and, on the rebound, Gavi filled his foot at the entrance of the area, but the ball deflected the mark and went out. The Portuguese answer came in the 17th minute, when Guerreiro served Leão inside the area, but the Milan striker couldn’t catch it and sent it over the goal, wasting a good opportunity.
The net was swinging in the 24th minute, after an excellent counterattack by Fury! Cancelo missed a pass in the attacking field, Gavi kept the ball and launched a fast counterattack. The youngster from Barcelona played on the right for Sarabia, who crossed low, to the extent, for Morata, who only needed to swell Diogo Costa’s net: 1 to 0!
The goal gave the Spanish team a boost, which, in the 28th minute, was back in danger. Gavi crossed from the left to Soler, who hit first and saw Diogo Costa make the first save. The ball returned to Soler, who finished falling and ended up sending it over the goal.
Portugal responded in the 33rd minute, when André Silva received it from Otávio, turned at the edge of the area and hit with danger, but sent it to the right of Unai Simón’s goal. 1-0 for Spain at the end of the first leg!
⏸ Interval. We have 45 minutes to turn the game around. #Let’s Go WithEverything
🇪🇸 1-0 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/z8fptcOH57
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 2, 2022
In the second half, coach Fernando Santos made changes to the Portugal team and put Cristiano Ronaldo on the field with the intention of going in search of a tie. And in the 13th minute, André Silva received one-on-one, made a good wall and rolled to Rafael Leão, who left the marker on the ground and finished with his right foot, but Unai Simón made a great save and saved Spain.
Until the Portuguese effort was rewarded in the 36th minute, when Ricardo Horta left everything even on the scoreboard! João Cancelo scored on the right side and crossed low into the area, where the Braga striker was free, and just needed to get there, hitting, first, to equalize: 1 to 1 on the scoreboard!
The final minutes of the match were electrifying. At 40′, Sarabia tried twice to send it into the area, Diogo Costa arrived, taking the slap, but the ball was left for Jordi Alba who, alone, risked a slightly strange header and, without a goalkeeper, ended up sending it out. All the same on the scoreboard at the end of 90 minutes.
Source: sportbuzz
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
