PITCHSIDE FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022: URUGUAY V PORTUGAL

Dec, 2022 Andrew Medina 0

Another juicy one…This was a battle of the Dark Horses that featured a World Cup curtain call for aging legends (CR7, Cavani, Suarez) and some of the worlds most touted young talents ( João Félix, Rafael Leão, Fede Valverde, Pellistri).

It’s rare that a 2-0 score line flatters the losing team, but that was definitely the case in this one. Uruguay played with their typical ferocity while Portugal opted for a more methodical, possession based strategy. Rodrigo Bentancour had the games first real chance but went full-blown Spursy when he missed a clear one-on-one. Minutes later Bruno Fernandes would net a beautiful curler which had CR7 stans up in arms as he narrowly missed it for his second of the tournament. Uruguay would turn up the heat in the second half with a more aggressive press. La Celeste nearly pulled one back when Maxi Gomez nailed the post with a thunderbolt. Undeterred, Portugal maintained their clinical approach and Fernandes would seal the deal with his second of the match, thanks to a controversial hand-ball penalty in the 89th.