Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Tuesday beat the Czech Republic 2-1 to claim a UEFA Euro 2024 debut victory, but they needed to come from behind with a 92nd-minute winner from 21-year-old Francisco Conceicao.
Earlier in the section’s other clash, Turkey bested Georgia 3-1 in a pulsating match in Dortmund.
Roberto Martinez’s Portugal qualified at a canter with a 100 percent record, but only just scraped victory in Leipzig in their first match, under driving rain.
Photo: AFP
Ronaldo played at a record-extending sixth European Championship, while 41-year-old defender Pepe became the tournament’s oldest ever player for the Selecao.
The Czechs went ahead against the run of play through Lukas Provod’s fine strike from the edge of the box after the hour mark, but Robin Hranac’s own-goal soon pulled Portugal level before Conceicao’s winner.
“We want to do more, but there was also a lot of emotion, a lot of desire and sometimes we failed to pull off the strategic plan,” said Portugal midfielder Vitinha, awarded player of the match.
Portugal supporters chanted Ronaldo’s name and imitated his “Suuuui” celebration shout as they marched to the game waving flags and in high spirits despite a brief, but intense, thunderstorm.
About 8,000 fans attended Portugal’s open training session on Saturday, many of whom were just hoping for a glimpse of the 39-year-old former Real Madrid striker.
Thousands of fans sported replica Ronaldo shirts at the match, but were unable to watch the all-time record Euros goalscorer find the net on a frustrating night against a solid Czech side.
A well-supported Turkey started the Euros in entertaining fashion with an end-to-end win over debutants Georgia.
Real Madrid playmaker Arda Guler scored a brilliant goal, along with strikes by Mert Muldur and Kerem Akturkoglu, to delight the masses of Turkish supporters.
Georgia were dangerous after Georges Mikautadze leveled Muldur’s superbly hit opener, and struck the woodwork.
SSC Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was below his best, but despite defeat, his team offered enough to give themselves hope for the matches ahead, against the Czech Republic and then Portugal.
“It was a match worthy of the Euros, we had great support even in difficult moments. This win is also for them and the party that they’ll have,” Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella told reporters. “It’s my 50th birthday today so it was [a] perfect day of sport and the victory was the best present that the boys could have given me.”
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