Bruno Fernandes stated that he believed Cristiano Ronaldo had a touch on it for the midfielder’s first goal in Portugal’s 2-0 win against Uruguay on Monday. This result sent his side through to last 16 World Cup.
After Ronaldo was awarded the goal, Fernandes was given credit for the goal. Fernandes jumped to flick the ball past Uruguay’s goalkeeper Sergio Rochet in 54 minutes. The officials determined that the ball had passed just above Ronaldo’s head and denied the Portugal captain the opportunity to match Eusebio’s World Cup record.
“I felt that Cristiano touched my ball. Fernandes stated that he was passing the ball to me. “It doesn’t matter if we win the next round against a very difficult opponent.
Portugal has won their first two games at the World Cup Qatar. beat Ghana 3-2 last week and then defeated Uruguay 2-1 on Monday. Uruguay was the team that knocked them from the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Fernandes was a Manchester United teammate until last week, when Ronaldo and the club split. Fernandes scored his second goal in extra time. Fernandes was already substituted so Fernandes assumed penalty-taking duties. He scored from the spot.
Fernando Santos, Portugal manager, dismissed suggestions by the media that he might play a weaker Portugal team against South Korea, having already secured qualification for the knockout stage.
“First place isn’t guaranteed,” Santos said. “We will fight for the top spot, not only because Brazil is there,” Santos said.
Brazil is likely to win Group G, which would allow them to play the runners up in Group H, currently dominated by Portugal.
The men of Santos will face South Korea in their third and final group match on Friday.
When Santos was asked about the extent of the injury sustained by Nuno Mendes (left-back), he said that he would wait to see the results of medical tests.
Danilo Pereira, Portugal’s centre-half, was unable to play against Uruguay after breaking three of his ribs during training. Otavio, a midfielder who had been a concern for injury before Monday’s match, was also absent.
Uruguay is expected to win in Qatar. However, they will be eliminated early if they do not beat a Ghana team buoyed by the thrilling 3-1 win over South Korea.
After two games, the South Americans are at the bottom of the group with one point. Ghana is second with three points. The two sides will be rematching their 2010 World Cup clash.
Twelve years ago, Uruguay was in South Africa and reached the semi-finals. Uruguay defeated Ghana on penalties.
Uruguay’s forward Luis Suarez intentionally handled the ball near the goalline in extra time to prevent a goal. Asamoah Kyan missed the spot-kick. In the shootout, Uruguay beat Ghana despite Suarez’s dismissal.
Uruguay manager Diego Alonso, however, dismissed the significance of that controversial match. He insisted that his team will perform well for what will be an intense game.
He said, “It’s an entirely different story for us both.” “We both will go searching for qualifications. Friday will be decisive, but it’s quite a different story than what happened 12 years earlier.
“The team must be more relaxed and motivated to play, as we did in today’s second half. To be the courageous team in the qualifiers and today’s second half, we must take chances.
