There was a party in the stands, with the famous Mexican waves, but Portugal drew with Croatia (1-1), in a preparatory game played this Thursday, September 6, at the Estádio Algarve.
The game started at a frenetic pace, with Portugal looking for the goal early on. After 4 minutes, Cancelo went up the right, crossed into the small area, but Bruma, who even managed to escape the defender, shot, already in effort, at the figure of goalkeeper Kalinic.
The same Bruma, after four minutes, dribbled a series of opponents until reaching the edge of the area, where he passed the ball to Bernardo Silva. The Manchester City winger had a well placed shot, but Kalinic saved.
In the other goal, Rui Patrício was called to intervene, in the 10th minute, making a great save with Kovacic's shot. And it would even end up being Croatia who opened the scoring, in the 17th minute.
It all started with a loss of ball by Ruben Neves, still in the defensive midfield. Then, the trident Perisic – Kovacic – Ljaca tried to reach Rui Patrício's goal. Perisic gave the final ax in the move, with a strong shot, with no chance for the Portuguese keeper.
Portugal, who had started the game well, accused the goal a little and the pace of the match dropped in intensity. Even so, the national team reached a draw, in the 32nd minute. Pizzi crossed and Pepe, playing the 100th game for Portugal, headed into the back of the net.
Throughout the first half, the corner team was always better, continued to charge after the goal, mainly with the onslaught of Bernardo Silva, and had a sovereign opportunity to score already in added time.
William Carvalho climbed meters with the ball under control, passed to André Silva but the Portuguese striker, with only one defender to go, shot too wide to the despair of thousands of Portuguese fans in the stands.
Unlike the start of the first half, the second started without so much frenzy and scoring opportunities. The only noteworthy move occurred in the 46th minute, with Perisic, in the small area, heading Patrício.
The departure of Bernardo Silva, for the entry of Gelson, removed some of the glare on the right side of Portugal and even Bruma, in evidence in the first half, dropped in performance.
Only after 76 minutes, danger returned to the goalposts. Mário Rui, who played the left defense, crossed and the ball went to the post, after deviation in Milic.
At the end of the match, Portugal increased the pressure in search of the goal. At 83, João Cancelo, always very active in offensive tasks, crossed low to the entrance of the area, but André Silva shot… to the bench.
Portugal managed to win the game, mainly in the first half, but the record of no defeats in all the games they've played at Estádio Algarve remains.
The selection of the corners has another meeting scheduled for this Monday, September 10, against Italy, counting for the League of Nations, at Estádio da Luz.
Photos: Nelson Ignatius | Sul Informação
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