Portugal got here from behind to grab a stoppage-time winner in opposition to Czech Republic in Group F in Leipzig.
The Czechs produced a disciplined defensive show within the first half, which led to frustration for the 2016 winners.
Lukas Provod then scored a lovely curling strike from 25 yards to stun Portugal simply after the hour however an unlucky own-goal from defender Robin Hranac seven minutes later arrange a tense finale.
Diogo Jota noticed a aim dominated out for offside 4 minutes from time however sub Francisco Conceicao popped as much as slam residence a winner 111 seconds into his aggressive debut to interrupt Czech hearts and get Portugal off to a profitable begin.
Historical past makers
At kick-off Cristiano Ronaldo set a brand new report as the primary man to have performed in six European Championships whereas Pepe, aged 41 years and 113 days, grew to become the oldest participant within the competitors’s historical past.
On his 208th cap Ronaldo mis-timed a header from a cross from Rafael Leao, who had pounced on a free cross and lower in from the left after simply eight minutes, sending the ball extensive of the upright
Nuno Mendes lashed over from 30 yards as Portugal started to point out indicators of frustration with the cussed and organised defensive work of the Czechs whereas Ruben Dias and Bruno Fernandez noticed long-range efforts deflected off beam.
Jindřich Staněk likviduje první velkou šanci Portugalců! 🧱 pic.twitter.com/n3lmYwp9LL
— Česká fotbalová reprezentace (@ceskarepre_cz) June 18, 2024
Fernandes curled a low ball into the field on the break which the sliding Leao was inches away from changing however simply after the half hour Fernandes unlocked the defence for the primary time with a cross to Ronaldo.
On-rushing keeper Jindrich Stanek – as soon as on the books of Everton and who performed 5 video games on mortgage at non-league Hyde United in 2015 – did beautifully to dam his shot after which was up in time to clutch Vitinha’s follow-up roller from the sting of the field.
A Ronaldo back-heel nearly despatched Vitinha by, just for Hranac to crowd him out within the field and Portugal’s frustration grew as Leao was proven a yellow card for simulation after happening on the sting of the field beneath minimal contact from Tomas Soucek
Stanek got here to the rescue in first-half stoppage time as Ronaldo spun onto a cross from Joao Cancelo and whipped in an angled shot together with his left foot which the keeper parried away to make sure the primary goalless first-half of the match.
Extra of the identical after the break
The possession, territory and stress continued after the turnaround as Diogo Dalot curled a left-footed shot over the angle of put up and bar from exterior the realm.
Patrik Schick blazed an effort nicely over the bar from a close to unattainable angle on a uncommon Czech foray ahead on 50 minutes however on the different finish Ronaldo noticed a header from a Ruben Dias cross deflected over after which was denied a free-header from shut vary by Soucek’s well timed intervention.
Schick went into the e-book after a striker’s problem on Cancelo 25 yards out on 57 minutes with Ronaldo firing the following free-kick in the direction of aim however seeing Stanek collect the ball on the second try – his twenty ninth direct free-kick try throughout six European Championships with out scoring.
https://t.co/MGe1SV8Rcp pic.twitter.com/cTNTvenMH6
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 18, 2024
The impasse was finally damaged in opposition to the run of play simply after the hour when Portugal did not clear a cross from the left and Coufal laid the ball into the trail of Provod 25 yards out to supply a elegant first-time end, whipping the ball previous the dive of Diogo Costa and contained in the far put up.
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez rang the modifications and his aspect was stage on 69 minutes when Nuno Mendes nodded a deep Vitinha cross again into the center and Stanek nervously parried the ball into the shin of Hranac, who couldn’t keep away from the ball looping into the web for the equaliser.
🇵🇹⚽️🇨🇿#EURO2024 | #PORCZE pic.twitter.com/O0J1V6iAxC
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 18, 2024
Bernardo Silva pinched possession and smashed in an angled strike which bounced again off the keeper’s chest moments later as Portugal sought a winner whereas Vitinha’s low skidder on 78 minutes was rotated his proper put up by Stanek.
Moments after approaching Czech sub Antonin Barak noticed a low shot within the space blocked by Ruben Dias inside the ultimate 10 minutes, with Soucek dragging the follow-up narrowly extensive.
Late drama
Portugal thought the winner had arrived with lower than 4 minutes of regular time remaining as Ronaldo’s downward header from Cancelo’s swirling cross got here again off the put up for sub Diogo Jota to nod within the rebound, however Ronaldo was adjudged to have been inches offside by the semi-automated evaluation system and the celebrations had been lower brief.
They had been capable of resume them two minutes into the 4 added minutes as Pedro Neto drove in from the left and fired in a cross which was blocked by Hranac however dropped to Conceicao who hammered a low shot in from shut vary to spark wild celebrations.
Neto and Conceicao had been on the sphere lower than two minutes once they mixed for the aim, which got here within the 21-year-old’s first aggressive look and nearly 24 years to the day after his father Sergio’s hat-trick ensured Portugal beat Germany at Euro 2000.
Portugal face Turkey – 3-1 winners over Georgia within the night’s early recreation – of their essential second match in Dortmund on Saturday (5pm BST) three hours after Georgia and Czech Republic meet in Hamburg.
🇵🇹 Hyped 🗣️#EURO2024 | #PORCZE pic.twitter.com/1wU8WcuCOQ
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 18, 2024
