Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal survived a massive scare from Czechia with a 2-1 victory in their Euro 2024 opener. With all the star power on the field for Portugal, their winning goal came from the unlikeliest of sources as Francisco Conceicao scored his first international goal.
Fans believed that Portugal securing three points from their opener was a given and a look at the stats would back that theory. The Euro favorites had 19 shots to Czechia’s five, 13 corners to Czechia’s zero and 74 PERCENT POSSESSION.
The numbers failed to reflect the full story as Portugal did little with their copious possession and created a minimum number of chances. Their best look at Czechia’s goal in the first half was a Ronaldo chance that would’ve been called back for offside anyway.
Another chance for Ronaldo and Portugal!
Will Portugal score in this first half? pic.twitter.com/f1PsrfBfOA— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
Portugal were sluggish on the ball and lacked any inspiration. A moment that epitomized this was AC Milan dangerman Rafael Leão having a favorable one-on-one opportunity with a defender and opting to dive. Leão was booked for simulation.
Portugal’s wake-up call finally came in the 62nd minute when a rare Czechia move forward saw Lukas Provod blast a shot into the net to give the underdogs a stunning lead. What a strike.
CZECHIA TAKES THE LEAD OVER PORTUGAL!!!
Lukáš Provod with the goal!!! pic.twitter.com/wblVo9Ulqx— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
With how little Portugal were producing in the final third it looked as if Czechia were going to pull off the upset.
The only way Portugal were going to find the back of the net was either a piece of brilliance or a mistake. The latter reared its ugly head seven minutes after Provod’s goal. A rather tame header from Nuno Mendes turned disastrous as Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek slapped the ball into his own defender.
What a brutal own goal to give up after over an hour of valiant defending.
AN OWN GOAL TO LEVEL THE SCORE
Czechia's lead only lasted for 7 minutes before the ball found the back of the net for Portugal pic.twitter.com/FJUUdJTtmI— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
Another look at the own goal that drew Portugal level with Czechia pic.twitter.com/abtnYCNSsN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
A draw would still be a major blow to Portugal and a big moment for Czechia. The final 20 minutes saw Czechia holding on and VAR denying a Portugal goal after Ronaldo was inches offside.
After a VAR check, Portugal's goal was disallowed pic.twitter.com/eKNWwdRDet
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
It was THIS CLOSE for Ronaldo and Portugal pic.twitter.com/wA3JKtYAcS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
In the 90th minute Portugal manager Roberto Martinez made a triple substitution to inject extra life into his side. It would be 21-year-old Conceicao who took advantage of another Czech error to score the winner.
What a time to score your first international goal.
Francisco Conceicao goal vs Czechia
PORTUGAL TAKES THE LEAD!!!
Francisco Conceição with the absolutely CLUTCH goal! pic.twitter.com/RhdQ1CmALd— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
UNBELIEVEABLE FINISH.
Francisco Conceição with late game heroics ❄️ pic.twitter.com/SyjtqVDYBu— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
What a moment. What a match.
Ronaldo embraces Francisco Conceição after his match-winning goal for Portugal ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7C85H132HJ— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2024
The victory sets Portugal up in prime position to advance out of the group stage with Turkey and Georgia left to play.
