LEIPZIG, Germany
Youngster Francisco Conceicao snatched Portugal a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 Group F opener on Tuesday 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.
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 offside against Ronaldo.
"We showed all our
coolness and resilience," said Portugal midfielder Vitinha.
"We remained calm, got
the draw and always believed until the end to get the win.
"Luckily we managed to do
it with the help of the players who came on... we are truly a team."
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's 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 offside.
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.
"Of course it hurts
extremely (badly), although nobody completely thought we would prevail
today," Provod told Czech national television. "The goals we conceded
did not come after well put together attacks, but we have to acknowledge Portugal's
quality. The (goals) came from the enormous pressure."
However Portugal were quickly
level when Hranac unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, after Stanek
palmed Nuno Mendes's 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 offside.
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.
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