On Monday night, Portugal defeated Uruguay 2-0 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar, moving to a six-point lead in Group H.
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Portugal survived a tense finish to become the third team, after France and Brazil, to qualify for the last 16 and will face South Korea on Friday. In a scoreless first half, Portugal dominated with nearly 70% possession against Uruguay, but it was the South Americans who came closest to scoring when Rodridgo Bentancur charged through only to have his 32nd minute shot blocked by keeper Diogo Costa. Fernandes scored in the 54th minute from the left flank with a whipped in cross-shot that Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to redirect into the net. On closer scrutiny, however, the goal, originally attributed to Ronaldo, was changed to his old Manchester United teammate Fernandes. Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had scored a second-half header, but he didn’t get a touch on Fernandes’ cross, which went in.
A protester carrying a pride flag entered the pitch shortly after the goal before being chased down and led away by security personnel. Uruguay fought hard to equalise and nearly did so in the 75th minute when substitute Maxi Gomez curled a shot from the top of the penalty area off the post with Costa beaten. Uruguay, who knocked Portugal out of the 2018 World Cup, will be disappointed by a string of chances on the break: midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur skipped past three players only to see his shot brilliantly saved, Maxi Gomez hit the post, and Luarez shot into the side netting.
Portugal, who were eliminated from the 2018 World Cup by Uruguay, then put the game out of reach just before full-time when VAR handed them a controversial penalty, which Fernandes calmly scored for his second goal of the night. The result puts Uruguay in an unenviable position in third place on one point, and they will need to beat Ghana in their last group game to advance. Portugal’s second win in two games moved them to the top of Group H with six points and into the last 16.
Cameroon rallied from a 3-1 deficit to draw 3-3 with Serbia in Group G to start a busy Monday at the World Cup. It’s a result that doesn’t help either team, who both needed to win to boost their qualification chances but are still in with a chance of finishing second.
