Slovakia vs Portugal Highlights: SVK 0-1 POR, Cristiano Ronaldo booked, Bruno scores winner in EURO 2024 qualifier

Bruno’s goal proves to be the winner as Portugal continues its 100 percent win record without conceding any goal in the EURO 2024 qualifying stage.

Portugal looks to run out the game, with nothing more left in it for them. The team has been compact at the back and the times it has slipped, Costa has made up.

Palhinha tries to get the ball off Robert Bozenik but ends up fouling him and gifting Slovakia a free-kick in front of the penalty box. Benes takes the free-kick, which hits Ronaldo in the wall and goes out of danger.

Now, Calzona, Slovakia’s head coach, gets into the book in what is Slovakia’s third yellow card of the night. The frustration of the host is clearly evident with regulation time almost done.

In: David Duris, Patrik Hrosovsky , Out: Lukas Haraslin, Stanislav Lobotka

Bruno threads in another through ball for Ronaldo, but Dubravka runs in to intercept and refuse another chance to the former Man United and Real Madrid forward.

The games looks to get strethed slowely and Roberto Martinez and his boys try to run out the last 10 odd minutes in the match. The team has not lost a match or conceded a goal so far in this campaign and will look to continue that tonight.

Bruno, the goal scorer in this game so far, sets up Ronaldo in front of the Slovakia box, but the Al Nassr forward’s shot from a narrow angle is tackled well by Dubravka.

In: Laszlo Benes, Out: Juraj Kucka

Haraslin takes the free-kick, which is headed well by Skriniar. But the former Inter defender fails to keep it on target as another chance goes begging for Slovakia.

Slovakia tries an attack, with Duda trying to draw defenders towards hiim. Palhinha falls into the trap and ends up giving a free-kick to the hosts.

Portugal has shifted to a 4-4-1-1 shape at the moment, with Ronaldo as the sole No. 9. He gets a pass fom Bernardo Silva and tries a shot on goal. But he gets his decision-making completely wrong as the ball flies off-target.

For Slovakia, In: Suslov, Bozenik, Out: Schranz, Polievka

For Portugal, In: Semedo, Neto, Otavio, Out: Cancelo, Neto, Vitinha

Slovakia looks to have shifted to a three-man defence, with attack along the flanks - a strategy Portugal was using early-on in the first half.

Bernardo delivers a long ball, which is passed on to Ronaldo by Vitinha. Ronaldo misses a shot the first time and as he tries a shot the second time, his high boot gets to the neck of Dubravka. The referee gives Ronaldo a yellow card, meaning he will definitely miss the next match.

The corner kick, reaches Leao, but Milan Skriniar makes a key block to clear the ball out of danger.

Portugak tries an attack on the counter, with Cancelo getting the ball in the final third. He crosses from the left for his former Man City teammate Bernardo Silva but Hancko intercepts to force a corner.

Slovakia attacks on the counter, with quick passes. The ball moves from Lobotka to Polievka and then Duda in no time. Schranz, meanwhile, makes a run behind the defence, receives the ball from Duda but fails to keep the shot on target.

Ondrej Duda pulls Dalot down to get the second booking of the night and also for Slovakia.

Lobotka to Kucka and then the ball goes to Pekarik, who tries a right-footed bullet of a hit, which is saved with quick reflexes by Costa.

Joao Cancelo tries a solo effort this time. The former Manchester City full-back gets the ball into the final third and then goes for goal himself. Dubravka, the Slovakian goalkeeper, has not problem in catching the ball as Cancelo apologises for not passing it to his teammates.

Ronaldo gets the ball along the left flank and marauds down the wing. He waits for cover and cuts back to Vitinha. The PSG forward, however, loses the ball to Kucka.

Neither side has made any change at half-time as Slovakia tries to break Portugal’s streak in the qualifiers, where it has not conceded a goal so far.

Dalot draws Slovakia into his own half and gets an off-side against the hosts. The coach is furious as he asks his boys to stay more careful.

The players are out from their dressing room as Slovakia looks for a comeback. Portugal remains ahead 1-0 at restart.

Bruno Fernandes’ lone goal keeps Portugal ahead at the half-way mark. Slovakia will find solace in the fact that they dominated the attack for the most part of the game and will hope to continue the same in the next half.

Portugal has returned to try and drag Slovakia out and punish the hosts with a counter-attack. But Slovakia is maintaining a balanced approach here.

Bruno gets a pass from his left and makes a run, beating his markers and then shoots from the edge of the box to score from what was just Portugal’s second chance on goal.

Square passes and through balls almost punish Portugal, with Schranz crossing for Haraslin, who shoots just off-target.

Francesco Calzona, Slovakia’s head coach, continues to look on as his side tries to dominate the game. It has clearly looked the more attacking side tonight, if not better.

Palhinha tries to control the ball in his own half as Lobotka comes barging in and pushed the Fulham player down. The referee gives a free-kick to Portugal.

Vitinha takes the free-kick, aiming for Ruben Dias on the far post but he overshoots the ball as it goes out for a Slovakia goal-kick.

The whistles get louder. So do the cheers with every back-pass of Portugal. But Roberto Martinez’s side is trying to build from the back. Ronaldo passes to Leao, who is fouled by Schranz and the referee makes his first booking of the match.

Portugal is looking to play with a three-man defence, with the focus more on attack through the flanks. However, nothing seems to have worked so far, with Slovakia at level terms, in attack, against Ronaldo’s side.

Ruben Dias gets the ball to Leao, who uses his long legs to get past Schranz but Pekarik stops the ball to give Portugal a corner. The resulting corner is cleared by Dubravka.

Duda carries the ball into the final third, is stopped by Palhinha with a sliding tackle but Haraslin takes the ball into thebox. He goes down after a nudge off Dalot but the referee is not interested.

Slovakia is playing with square passes as Viking claps and cheers continue to motivate the hosts. Meanwhile, Ivan Schranz tries to get the ball off Palhinha and again gifts a free-kick to Portugal.

The home crowd continues to whistle as Portugal tries to frustrate the home team with back-passes. The match has Portugal royalty, Luis Figo, in attendance as the team looks to secure a spot in the European Championship.

Portugal is defending with everything they have as Slovakia tries to arch forward through a counter-attack. Ivan Schranz tries to head the ball in but ends up conceding a foul and ending that attack of the hosts.

Palhinha and Ruben Dias try back passes, trying to drag Slovakia out of its half, with Ronaldo making a run in the opposite side.

Both the teams have had very good chances so far but the goalkeepers have been presented with regulation saves.

Palhinha gets the ball to Vitinha as the ball moves smoothly off the feet to Bruno. the ball is delivered to the head of Ronaldo, whose cross falls to nobody.

Slovakia is controlling possession in its half, with simple passes, trying to stretch Portugal and find gaps to attack. It has found some so far, but nothing good enough to break the deadlock.

Bruno Fernandes gets the ball at the edge of the box. he makes a run to his left and instead of pasing to Ronaldo on his left, decides to shoot, forcing a regulation save by Dubravka.

Portugal is throwin its men forward and the ball, after a touch of Haraslin gets to Ronaldo, who tries to score on the volley. But the ball flies off-target.

Portugal tries to start an attack through the right flank and David Hansko steals the ball off.

Portugal clears the corner kick and then an attacking run by Slovakia is ruled off-side. The hosts are dominating the match in the last few minutes.

A long ball from the Slovakia defence catches Portugal napping as Schranz takes control of the ball, beats his marker but as he is surrounded by more defenders, he pases to Polievka, who gets it to Haraslin. The No. 17’s shot is blocked for a corner.

Over 22,000 fans have gathered at the National Stadium to support their home team and Slovakia, so far, has not disappointed.

Pekarik carries the ball along the right flank, draws the defenders towards him and crosses for Polievka, who shoots on target, forcing a save by Costa.

Slovakia goes for an attack with Schranz stretching the Portugal defence. He cuts back foir Kucka, who shoots off-target.

Portugal trying to stave off Slovakia’s attack along the left side of the midfield with one-touch football. However, Ondrej Duda steps on Bruno to give Potugal a free-kick and end that development.

Slovakia taking the long ball approach with Skriniar putting in a long diagonal ball, which finds a player and then the ball reached Duda, who eventually, loses the ball.

Peter Pekarik and Raphael Leao try to get to the ball and end up clashing against each other’s heads. The medical team of both sides rush to help and are being checked for concussion. Eventually, both are back on their feet.

Cristiano gets the ball in the midfield, sprints and then passes it to Dalot on his right. The Man United full-back, tries to dribble past the Slovakian defence but fails as Portugal continues to ask questions in the final third.

Portugal is dragging Slovakia into its half to start a counter-attack, with Cancelo and Jota playing cat-and-mouse with the Slovakian attack.

Portugal is starting with a three-man midfield and that will be crucial with two primary players from either side of Manchester, Bruno and Bernardo, pulling strings for attack.

Portugal has its first chance when Vitinha gets the ball in front of the penalty box. He tries a shot on target but it is just wide.

Slovakia gets the ball rolling but Portugal takes possession almost immediately and Ronaldo tries a cross, which is cleared initially.

“We are respected throughout the world, that’s the most important thing. He makes his way, I make mine even if we are playing outside Europe. He has done well from what I’ve seen and so have I,” Ronaldo told the press before the game.

“The rivalry is over. It was a good healthy rivalry that the spectators liked a lot. Whoever likes Ronaldo does not have to hate Messi or vice-versa because they’re both very good. They changed the history of football and they keep on doing it.”

Both the teams, Slovakia and Portugal, have chosen to go with a 4-3-3 shape, meaning the match will be a counter-attacking end-to-end affair, at least on paper. Crisiano Ronaldo starts as Portugal’s No. 9, while Robert Polievka starts in front for Slovakia.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player in the starting XI of either side to start the match on a yellow card. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will miss the next match if he is booked in this game.

Slovakia: Dubravka (GK), Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko, Kucka, Lobotka, Duda, Schranz, Polievka, Haraslin

Portugal: Diogo Costa, Dalot, Ruben Dias, Antoni Silva, Cancelo, Bruno, Palhinha, Bernardo, Leao, Ronaldo, Vitinha

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said Wednesday he wants to go “even further” after becoming the first player to score 850 career goals with Saudi club side Al-Nassr.

“I want more,” the forward told a press conference before training with the national side at Oeiras, on the outskirts of Lisbon, ahead of upcoming European Championship qualifiers.

“As long as I play I want to set the bar very high, I have to think big,” continued the 38-year-old.

Ronaldo marked his 200th international cap last June by scoring the only goal in Portugal’s victory over Iceland, which allowed the Selecao to stay top of Group J in Euro 2024 qualifying.

On Friday, the 2016 European champions will play Slovakia in Bratislava and Luxembourg three days later at the Algarve stadium, in the south of Portugal.

“I really want to win these two matches. If we win we will practically qualify,” said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Asked about his rivalry with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Ronaldo replied that the two “respected each other” and he believes they have “changed the history of football”.

Ronaldo, this year, marks his 20th anniversary in the national side, saying he was “proud” of this “longevity”.

“I want to continue, because I feel good and useful but anything can happen,” he said, adding for now he wanted to “enjoy the moment” and set himself the goal of “having an excellent Euro”.

-AFP