Fernandes double sends Portugal into World Cup knock-outs, Portugal defeated Uruguay 2-0 on Monday, and as a result, joined France and Brazil in the World Cup’s knockout rounds. Bruno Fernandes scored both goals. Nine minutes into the second half, the Manchester United midfielder netted a cross-corner goal. He later added a penalty in stoppage time after Jose Maria Gimenez was penalized for handball. The first pitch invader of the Qatar tournament made an appearance during the game at Doha’s magnificent 89,000-seat Lusail Stadium; the man carried rainbow flags and messages of support for Iranian and Ukrainian women.
Fernandes double sends Portugal into World Cup knock-outs
With Portugal already through, Uruguay must now beat Ghana in their final Group H match to stand any chance of also progressing. Both sides made three changes from their opening matches, with Portugal bringing in veteran Pepe for the injured Danilo Pereira, who suffered cracked ribs in training. Pepe became the third-oldest outfield player in World Cup history.
Portugal dominated the first half, hogging the ball and creating several chances, but without ever testing Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet. Uruguay’s forwards, Edinson Cavani and Darwin Nunez were starved of the ball but the South Americans still had the best opportunity of the first period.
Rodrigo Bentancur picked the ball up in his own half and surged forwards, slipping between two defenders to find himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who spread himself well to save the midfielder’s shot. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was largely anonymous in the first 45 minutes but did delight fans with a shoulder pass to pick out William Carvalho, who volleyed over.
– Pitch invader –
The main drama came after the break. Moments after a pitch invader ran onto the pitch carrying an LGBTQ rainbow flag and with a message supporting Ukraine and Iranian women on his T-shirt, only to be spectacularly tackled by security, Portugal went in front. Fernandes created space for himself on the left and curled an inswinging cross into the mixer, with Ronaldo breaking the offside trap to attempt a glancing header.
As the ball nestled in the goal, Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration but FIFA decided he had not touched the ball, thus denying him a ninth World Cup goal, which would have put him level with Portuguese great Eusebio. Uruguay coach Diego Alonso threw on forwards Maxi Gomez and Luis Suarez as the South Americans belatedly began to exert some pressure, and both came close to an equaliser. Gomez’s rasping drive from 20 yards came back off the post with Costa beaten, while Suarez hit the side netting from close range.
Gimenez’s trailing hand deflected the ball away from the midfielder just before the end of the 90-minute period, preventing Fernandes from going one-on-one with Rochet. After a VAR check, Iranian referee Alireza Faghani gave Fernandes the penalty kick, and after his trademark hop-skip run-up, Rochet was sent the wrong way. Later, he came close to scoring a hat-trick but missed the post from 20 yards.