khalid mustafa beg
The defending champions got off to a winning start in the EURO 2020 but it was again Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the limelight as he became EURO’s all-time leading goal scorer after his brace against Hungary.
ABOUT THE GAME
Fernando Santos made 4 changes to his team after their friendly win over Israel. Patricio, Semedo, Guerreiro and Danilo all started the game. Their Captain C. Ronaldo became the first player to appear at 5 EURO tournaments. The Hungary on the other hand made just 3 changes after their last game against Ireland with Botka, Lovrencsics and Sallai all coming in.
84’: Raphael Guerreiro
87’: Cristiano Ronaldo
90+2’: Cristiano Ronaldo#POR turned up late 🌟 pic.twitter.com/imvrKjUnbU— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 15, 2021
The Portuguese started the game quite well with some great counterattacking play. Jota got the first real chance in the game and could have passed the ball to an unmarked Ronaldo but decided to have a go by himself and was denied by the goalkeeper who made a strong save from Jota’s kick.
The Hungarians were sitting deep in their half as the attack from the other side kept on coming. At 30’, Ronaldo got a great cross from Silva but could get a good connection to the ball and sent it wide. One of the most astonishing moment came at 43’ when Jota drilled a cross into the box from left flank towards Bruno, who couldn’t get enough touch to the ball. But as the ball came into Ronaldo, his effort went above the goal as no one, especially Cristiano, could believe his miss from such a close range.
✅ 2004 EUROs
✅ 2006 World Cup
✅ 2008 EUROs
✅ 2010 World Cup
✅ 2012 EUROs
✅ 2014 World Cup
✅ 2016 EUROs
✅ 2017 Confederations Cup
✅ 2018 World Cup
✅ 2019 Nations League
✅ 2020 EUROsCristiano Ronaldo has scored in every single tournament he's played for Portugal. #POR pic.twitter.com/RfAkyb4k4l
— EUROs Tweet (@Football__Tweet) June 15, 2021
HT: HUNGARY 0 PORTUGAL 0
Fernando Santos’ men came into the second half with the same desire to score the first goal of the game. It was just a matter of time before Portugal would get the goal as they kept their patience and waited for any mistake from the opponent.
At 57’, Hungary’s Sallai got on to the edge of the box and took a shot first time , but was denied by Patricio who was having a comfortable evening while on the other hand it was just the opposite as Gulacsi had some tough time at goal.
Top scorers in Euros history:
🥇 Cristiano Ronaldo [11]🥈 Michel Platini [9]🥉 Alan Shearer [8]
The late show. 😅 pic.twitter.com/ES2Dbth3ag
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) June 15, 2021
It was looking an even match as Hungary were quick on counter attack and could have scored a goal while Portugal had the majority of the possession and even they could have scored but they were either denied by Gulacsi or could not get the finishing touch.
The Hunagry fans had a short moment of joy when their man Schon took the ball from right flank cut inside and drilled a powerful shot into the Portugal’s goal but their moment of joy was stopped immediately as he was found offside.
It took some time but the games’ first goal came at 84’ from Portugal’s number 5, Raphael Guerreiro. His shot took a big deflection off Orban and finally the Hungarian goalkeeper was beaten. 1-0 to Portugal.
At 86’, Portugal were awarded a penalty and as expected Ronaldo stepped up and fired it past the keeper. By that he took over from Michel Platini as all-time Euro top scorer and then again scored another goal at 90+2’, making it 3-0 for Portugal.
Things that are certain in life:
– Death
– Taxes
– Cristiano Ronaldo shutting up his haters— 𝙰𝔩𝔩𝔲. (@GreatWhiteNueve) June 15, 2021
FT: HUNGARY 0 PORTUAL 3.
It took a lot of effort from Portugal to get the opener as the solid defence of Hungary looked as if they would be able to get a draw from the game. But after they conceded the first goal, they lost their concentration.
KEY INSIGHTS
- Ronaldo has now scored 106 goals for Portugal, just 3 away from matching Iran’s Ali Daei as the all-tim leading international men’s goal scorer.
- Ronaldo has now the top scorer of EURO with 11 EURO goals, surpassing Platini who scored 9. Also became the first player to feature and to score in 5 EURO tournaments.
- Pepe became the oldest Portuguese player to appear at a EURO game, aged 38 years and 109 days.
- Portugal have not lost to Hungary in their 14 meetings (W10 D4)
