Youngster Francisco Conceicao snatched Portugal a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 Group F opener on Wednesday morning AEST just minutes after coming off the bench.
The 21-year-old Porto winger capitalised from close range after the Czechs were unable to clear a cross, completing his team’s comeback.
The Czechs went ahead against the run of play through Lukas Provod’s fine strike from the edge of the box after the hour mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal did not shine but dug just deep enough to claim victory, with Robin Hranac’s own goal pulling them level before Conceicao’s dramatic winner.
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Ronaldo, 39, playing at a record-extending sixth European Championship, was denied by Stanek on three occasions as Portugal constantly looked to find the competition’s all-time top goalscorer.
The striker hit the post with the score tied and Diogo Jota nodded in the rebound but the goal was disallowed for off-side against Ronaldo.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez selected 41-year-old defender Pepe, who became the oldest player in Euros history, beating the record set by Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly aged 40 in 2016, as part of a three centre-back defence.
Portugal won that tournament in 2016 to claim the trophy for the first time and captain Ronaldo said they deserve another, although they got off to a stuttering start in Germany.
In coach Ivan Hasek’s first competitive game after taking over in January, the Czech Republic largely frustrated Martinez’s side, who qualified unbeaten while scoring more goals than any other team.
Ronaldo sent an effort wide with his shoulder after Rafael Leao cut inside with menace early on, as the Portuguese controlled the ball.
Bruno Fernandes’ deflected dipping effort had some Portugal fans out of their seats and Leao was inches away from connecting with a low cross from the Manchester United playmaker.
Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek twice denied Ronaldo on a record 26th Euros appearance, but on both occasions the striker appeared marginally off-side.
The Al Nassr hitman’s brightest moment came with a clever backheel which played in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha, but the Czech defence swarmed around him quickly and blocked his shot.
Debate over whether Ronaldo should still be a starter or not has rumbled on since the 2022 World Cup and at times Portugal looked short on ideas beyond slinging crosses in towards him.
Stanek comfortably saved a Ronaldo free-kick from distance before the Czechs made their breakthrough.
Slavia Prague midfielder Provod whipped a superb strike past Diogo Costa from the edge of the box after Portugal failed to fully clear a cross just past the hour mark.
However Portugal were quickly level when Hranac unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, after Stanek palmed Nuno Mendes’ header straight at him from point-blank range.
Ronaldo and Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick finished as joint top scorers at Euro 2020 with five goals each but neither was at their lethal best in Leipzig.
Jota thought he had grabbed a last-gasp winner after Ronaldo’s header bounced off the woodwork into his path, but VAR showed the veteran forward was off-side.
It didn’t matter for Martinez’s men though after Conceicao came on to fire them to the three points, putting Portugal level with Turkey at the top of Group F.
TURKEY WINS THRILLER AGAINST EURO DEBUTANTS
Turkey got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a thrilling start on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Georgia that brought delight to a passionate army of fans in soaking wet Dortmund.
Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler crashed in a brilliant goal in the 65th minute to put Turkey ahead at a Westfalenstadion dominated by tens of thousands of Turkish fans, before Kerem Akturkoglu rolled home the third with the last kick of the game as Georgia pushed for a late leveller.
Guler, 19, had a difficult time with injuries in his first season in Madrid but stepped up for Turkey in a fiercely-contested match with Georgia, who did not look out of place in their first-ever match at a major international tournament.
“I’m really happy with the win, I hope I can score more goal to help my team,” said Guler.
“I don’t care about personal achievements, I’m only concerned about helping the team win and that we go as far as possible.”
Georgia were dangerous after Georges Mikautadze levelled Mert Muldur’s 25th-minute opener for Turkey just after the half-hour mark, and were denied a second equaliser by the woodwork and a series of saves and blocks.
But Akturkoglu made sure Turkey would top the group ahead of Portugal’s opening match with the Czech Republic later on Tuesday.
“It’s a bit early to talk about what was missing, but I will say a bit of talent, a bit of experience,” said Georgia coach Willy Sagnol.
“I’m sure that in the future, this kind of game in the next months and the next years I’m sure Georgia won’t lose, because Georgia will learn … I have absolutely nothing bad to say about them.”
Turkey took the cue from their fervent support and went at Georgia from the off, pressuring their inexperienced opposition high up the pitch as a huge din came rolling down from the stands.
Kaan Ayhan and Abdulkerim Bardakci both went close with headers from corners inside the first 10 minutes before Ayhan crashed a low drive off the inside of the post.
In a breathless opening period, Anzor Mekvabishvili almost gave Georgia a shock lead in the 11th minute when his wildly deflected shot was well saved by Mert Gunok.
But Muldur sparked wild celebrations in the stands in the 25th minute with a stunning volley after Ferdi Kadioglu’s cross was cleared to him on the edge of the area.
The roars from Muldur’s goal had barely subsided when Kenan Yildiz poked home what he thought was Turkey’s second, only for the goal to be ruled out for the Juventus attacker’s toes straying off-side before he tapped home.
And Mikautadze then stunned what was effectively the home crowd in the 32nd minute by sweeping home Giorgi Kochorashvili’s low cross after brilliant play down the right.
The small but loud Georgian contingent had their heads in their hands shortly afterwards when Mikautadze look certain to put their team ahead but dragged a great opportunity wide.
Turkey again started on the front foot after the break, but Georgia held their own and Mikautadze was in the thick of it again in the 52nd minute when Bardakci blocked his effort after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s burst down the left.
Kvaratskhelia, who was below-par throughout, then poked a good chance wide in the 62nd minute and only moments later Guler took aim from distance and arrowed in an unstoppable shot past the despairing Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Guler’s goal made him the first teenager since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004 to score on his Euros debut, with the pair possibly facing off on Saturday.
Georgia pushed for another equaliser and came desperately close five minutes after Guler’s strike when Kochorashvili skipped past a couple of weak challenges only to see his shot rattle the crossbar.
Kochorashvili and Zuriko Davitashvili were both unfortunate not to level in added time as goalkeeper Mamardashvili pushed forward for one last effort and Akturkoglu charged home on the break to seal a hugely entertaining win.
Source Agencies
