Fernandes scored two second-half goals though Cristiano Ronaldo continued to claim the first as his own long after the final whistle and could have had a hat-trick during a relatively tame encounter. Uruguay are now bottom of the group and need maximum points against Ghana, who they infamously knocked out of the 2010 World Cup courtesy of Luis Suarez’s handball and Asamoah Gyan’s penalty miss, plus a favour from Portugal against South Korea to avoid an ignominious early exit.
Uruguay committed the first foul inside 25 seconds and collected the first booking after six minutes, when Rodrigo Bentancur fouled Ruben Dias. But a game simmering with needle and gamesmanship this was not, despite Pepe playing and the late introduction of Suarez.
There was little sign of urgency from Uruguay either as they sought their first win of the tournament, with Diego Alonso’s side content to let Portugal dominate possession before shutting down their creative talents in numbers. José Maria Gimenéz, part of a three-man central defence that was tightly supported by Uruguay’s wing-backs, rarely left the side of Joao Félix or Bernardo Silva in the first half. Hurting Portugal on the break or from a set-piece was the clear strategy.
This story is from the November 29, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 29, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ukraine Putin Makes Gains In East As Offensive Gathers Pace
Russian forces have made significant advances in a narrow corridor in eastern Ukraine as an offensive by Moscow to take territory before western military aid arrives appears to be gathering pace.
UN Official 'Horrified By Gaza Mass Graves'
The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, has said he is "horrified" by reports of mass graves containing hundreds of bodies at two of Gaza's largest hospitals.
Sales Of Electric And Hybrid Cars Forecast To Reach Global Record
Electric and plug-in hybrid car sales will jump to a global record in 2024 despite slowing growth in some markets, according to forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
PM To Raise Defence Spending And Put Arms Industry On 'War Footing
Sunak makes 2.5% GDP pledge to take budget to 87bn a year by 2030
Hunt's Scope For Lower Tax Hit By Higher Than Expected Borrowing
Jeremy Hunt's scope for a substantial pre-election tax giveaway has been hit after the latest set of official figures showed the UK's public finances in worse shape than thought at last month's budget.
Fossils Reveal Shark That Made Great White Look Like Small Fry
Fossil experts have gained unprecedented insights into an enormous prehistoric shark, after finding complete skeletons of the creature.
EU Green Deal At High Risk Of Being Killed Off, Says Green Co-President
The EU's green deal to restore biodiversity, clean the continent's soil, air and water, and mitigate climate breakdown is at high risk of being killed off, the co-president of the Green group of MEPS has warned.
Childcare Expansion Plan May Struggle To Hit Targets Watchdog
The rollout of the government's childcare scheme to tens of thousands more families is facing "significant uncertainties" and may struggle to meet its own targets, according to a damning report by Whitehall's spending watchdog.
Australian PM Scolds 'Arrogant' Musk Over Stabbing Videos On X
Australia's prime minister has labelled X's owner, Elon Musk, an "arrogant billionaire" after a row over the removal from the platform of videos of a violent stabbing in a Sydney church.
Appeal For Help To Decipher Memoir By Jane Austen's Brother
There may be gems about Jane Austen's life and times buried in a memoir handwritten by her older brother-but it is proving difficult to decipher his handwriting.