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Portugal began a successful defense of their UEFA Nations League title with a 4-1 victory over Croatia in Porto.
The hosts were all over Croatia in the first half, hitting the post three times and landing several excellent saves from Dominik Livakovic. The Croats finally broke four minutes before halftime when Joao Cancelo cut the frame and launched a long shot that Livakovic could only throw in the top corner.
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Diogo Jota added another early in the second half with a clever finish after a pass from Raphael Guerreiro. Twenty minutes from the end, Joao Félix finished off a third that passed through Livakovic. Bruno Petkovic gave Croatia some consolation in injury time, before Andre Silva added another for the hosts.
Portugal will now travel to Solna to play Sweden in the second round of group stage matches on Tuesday, while Croatia will travel to Paris to face France.
Joao Cancelo
Image Credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Can Portugal retain its European titles? Portuguese coach Fernando Santos might have thought his time in charge of the national team peaked with victory at Euro 2016 and the inaugural Nations League last summer. Based on the evidence tonight, he has a young team talented enough to compete for major titles for years to come. Portugal’s four forwards and their full-backs came together brilliantly here, and they still have Cristiano Ronaldo to add to this when he recovers from injury.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
That Manchester United had a free run by signing him in January now seems like the rest of Europe’s elite teams made a big oversight. Fernandes was at the heart of all of Portugal’s orderly interaction in Porto. With momentum that informs and inspires those around him, he seems destined to be a decisive force at club and international level in the future.
PLAYER RATINGS
Portugal (4-3-3): Lopes 6; Cancelo 7, Pepe 6, Days 6, Guerrero 7; Moutinho 7, Pereira 6, Fernandes 8; Jota 7, Joao Félix 7, Bernardo Silva 7. SUBS: Trincao 6, Oliveira 6, André Silva 6
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic 7; Barisic 6, Vida 6, Lovren 5, Jedvaj 5; Kovacic 6, Pasalic 6; Rebic 6, Vlasic 5, Brekalo 6; Kramaric 6. SUBS: Perisic 6, Brozavic 6, Petkovic 7
KEY MOMENTS
22 ‘OUT OF THE POST! A 20-yard shot from Felix catches a deflection and hits the post with Livakovic stranded. The keeper then makes a brilliant save when Guerreiro shoots on the rebound from a tight angle. Portugal is hitting seriously here.
41 & # 39; GOAL! Portugal 1 (Cancel 41) Croatia 0 It has not come as much as it has been inevitable. Cancelo dances across the face of the Croatian area and shoots with his left foot from 20 meters. Livakovic lends him a hand, but only his fingertips as he flies to the top corner. A superb goal.
58 ‘GOAL! Portugal 2 (Jota 58) Croatia 0 It is two. Guerreiro places a beautiful ball over Jedvaj’s head and Jota is on goal. He cuts from the left of the penalty area and takes a low shot under Livakovic.
70 & # 39; GOAL! Portugal 3 (Joao Felix 70) Croatia 0 Joao Felix comes into action now. Bernardo Silva has all the time in the world to square him on the edge of the area, and Joao Félix hits a shot that goes through Livakovic’s hands and bounces high into the net.
90+ 1 ‘GOAL! Portugal 3 Croatia 1 (Petkovic 90 + 1 ‘) A consolation for the visitors as a beautiful pass launches Petkovic into the Portuguese area, and he puts a shot low into the net.
90 + 4 ‘GOAL! Portugal 4 (Andre Silva 90 + 4) Croatia 1 It’s a beating. Pepe looks around a corner to the back post, where Andre Silva slides to deflect the ball into the net from inches out.
- Diogo Jota and Joao Felix scored their first international goals for Portugal.
- Croatia have never beaten Portugal, drawing one and losing five of their six games to date.
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