59 min: There was a lovely move there as Ronaldo strolled through and Fernandes popped it to him. Nematov comes out to save it, which he does, but he also catches Ronaldo who is down. He wants a penalty but I don’t think it is one. The goalkeeper definitely gets the ball first.
58 min: Now we’re back up the other end for a Portugal free kick as Ronaldo is fould 30 yards out. Fernandes and the captain are over the ball.
57 min: There is so much action as Shukurov takes a punt. the goalkeeper puts it behind for a corner. It’s another wasted opportunity with Portgual easily working out the training pitch set piece.
55 min: It is end-to-end at the moment with Portugal now having a free kick. Mendes pops it in but it has way too much power on it and it’s out for a goal kick.
53 min: Portugal cannot afford to switch off as Uzbekistan are still pushing. Fayzullaev, who scored against Colombia, just had a shot but Diego Costa easily saved. This is also in from Oliver Lind:
double quotation mark Isn’t it great to see Ronaldo is back to his stat-padding best vs poor opposition? Now his starting place is cemented for the tournament and Portugal will suffer at the first serious hurdle. It’s so predictable it hurts. That I put money on Portugal reaching the semis looks like a very poor decision already.
51 min: Shukurov is fouled by Vitihna. Uzbekistan have a free kick but it quickly unravels and Portugal are back in control.
49 min: João Félix takes a long range effort. it is just over the cross bar, what a goal that would have been.
47 min: Here is some insight into if the Uzbekistan goal should have stood from Agnello:
double quotation mark Can be argued that Cancelo had already kicked the ball away. so there was no foul interfering with play when the goal was scored.
VAR did check the goal and ruled it out.
Portugal are in full control but can Uzbekistan get themselves back into this? All to come.
Uzbekisten have made changes with Alizhonov. Mozgovoy on and Portugal have put Semedo and Neto on for Cancelo and Conceição.
Dhruv Mandal has said:
double quotation mark If Portugal make a deep run in this World Cup, given both PSG’s recent UCL win (and as an Arsenal fan I am shattered). Portugal’s Nation’s League title, is possible “Nuno Mendes for Ballon D’or” buzz warranted?
If Portugal have a deep run, he would be a prime nominee.
Ronaldo creeping up this list:
A nice bit of half-time reading:
Ronaldo had a hat-trick denied just before the half with Khusanov scraping it off of the line. But the captain has two and Mendes has the other. More to come.
45 + 4 min: Portugal have firm control of this game, Uzbekistan have glimpses of what they can do. the consistency just is not there.
45 + 1 min: There will be six minutes added. Simone Holmes has emailed:
double quotation mark Ronaldo is simply amazing and anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. I am thrilled he scored (twice) and now you can add team player to his CV.
Getting to 41. just adding team player to a CV may be a little late but yes you can’t take away his goals in this game.
45 min: Another wasted chance from Uzbekistan as Shukurov sends it straight over the bar, a need for calm. clinicism or thise scoreline could get ugly.
43 min: Kári Tulinius has emailed about the Uzbekistan manager Fabio Cannavaro:
double quotation mark I find my eyes drawn to that other former Ballon d’Or winner, Fabio Cannavaro. I was vaguely aware he was a manager now,. seeing him on the sidelines feels a bit like a long-running television series bringing back an old protagonist that left the show years ago, but now as a side character with tattoos. He probably wouldn’t have lost Cristiano for the goal, mind you.
41 min: This goal is a good one from the captain, it’a a good run. while his finish could have been a bit more pin point, he won’t mind. I will say though I am a bit over the siu celebration.
39 min: João has emailed and said:
double quotation mark We focus too much on Ronaldo (I am firmly on the “Ronaldo should be benched” camp). there is another issue with some of the players: lack of intelligence associated with supreme talent. Ronaldo is partly culpable, but the main offenders are João Felix and João Cancelo. Incredible talent, technique, vision, creativity, but associated with overconfidence and bad decisions. This causes many problems from time to time.
And agree: Nuno Mendes is the best player.
Yes a team’s problems aren’t always down to one person. Ronaldo will always grab a headline if he isn’t up to his usual standards.
37 min: Uzbekistan break once more. Mendes proves his weight in gold in defence this time with a well timed run intercept a pass in the box. Really impressed with the PSG man so far.
35 min: Uzbekistan win a free kick. it is launched into the box but it has too much on it to read Hamrobekov. they are continuing to press and Portugal have faded since the hydration break.
33 min: Will that ruled out goal give Uzbekistan some momentum? So far yes. They look a lot more confident but they will need a goal to count to get back into this.
The Cancelo foul has ruled it out, that is met with a huge roar from the Portuguese fans.
Uzbekistan won a free kick. it looked like they had given it away cheaply but Cancelo, who is arguing he is fouled, loses it. VAR is looking at it for just that.
28 min: Sam Hill has come through with a fun fact:
double quotation mark People were very quick to start writing obituaries for Spain. Portugal after their first match, but remember Portugal won Euro 2016 after finishing third in their group. The last team to win every match at a World Cup was Brazil in 2002.
26 min: Right game play is back underway.
24 min: Here is something to read while players take on water.
23 min: The fouls are really clocking up for Uzbekistan. they need to get their discipline in check to get back into this match. The free kick taker this time is Fernandes, the shot isn’t too bad but Uzbekistan clear. Hydration break now!
22 min: The answer is not yet. Several Portugal players stand over the ball again but it is Fernandes who takes it short and passes to Mendes. The move doesn’t quite work but Portugal continue to press.
21 min: Ronaldo’s goal may silence some critics but not all, here is an email from Sean:
double quotation mark Ronaldo answers the question we were all asking - Can he do it against Uzbekistan in a climate controlled stadium?
Will the true test come against Colombia with this being Uzbekistan’s first World Cup? The first question to answer is is Portugal will score again with Mendes winning another free kick.
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