Table of Contents

LIVE: Portugal vs Uruguay – World Cup 2022

Thank you for reading this post. Don't forget to subscribe!

Portugal XI: Costa, Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Mendes, Neves, Fernandes, William, Silva, Ronaldo, Felix.

Uruguay XI: Rochet, Gimenez, Godin, Coates, Varela, Valverde, Bentancur, Vecino, Olivera, Nunez, Cavani.

Monday’s final match, and the second in Group H, is taking place at the Lusail Stadium.

FIFA ranking: Uruguay (14), Portugal (9).

Kickoff!

Uruguay gets the game underway, with the South American side adopting a 3-5-2 formation.

Portugal is sporting a 4-3-3 shape headed by Cristiano Ronaldo at its apex.

Portugal line up

Olivera makes an early foray forward

An early attempt by Mathias Olivera floats harmlessly over the bar, but it marks a promising first foray forwards by Uruguay’s 25-year-old left back.

Does anyone want to buy an aging striker? Or two?

Really is insane that Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez are facing each other at World Cup as free agents!

Portugal takes charge of the ball early on

Portugal has started well on the ball, enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the first five minutes.

An early chance sees William Carvalho fire over after a nice exchange with Ronaldo.

5 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Booking for Bentancaur

Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancaur goes into the referee’s book early after catching Ruben Dias on the calf.

7 mins: Portugal 0 – Uruguay 0

Getting into the spirit of it

Corner for Uruguay

Uruguay wins a corner and fashions a chance for Jose Maria Gimenez, but the center-back nods over Diogo Costa’s goal.

10 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Tipping over the bar

Portugal win the free kick on edge of the box

Portugal probed down the left, with Joao Felix winning a corner after drawing a block from Jose Maria Gimenez.

The European side wins a free kick on the edge of Uruguay’s box from the set-piece.

16 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Everyone loves CR7…

Gasps and cheers inside Lusail Stadium as Ronaldo produce a pretty basic stepover. #FIFAWorldCup #POR #URU

Stat attack

With 20 minutes on the clock, here’s how the numbers are looking. Don’t forget you can access these stats – and more – updated live, by clicking on the tab at the top of this blog.

Ronaldo attempts to turn provider

Cristiano Ronaldo surges down the left for Portugal and floats a cross into the box but there is nobody on the end of it.

Portugal manage to retain the ball and work it around the edge of the box before eventually being forced to shift it back by an Uruguayan press.

23 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Ronaldo’s free-kick blocked

Things look ominous for Uruguay as Cristiano Ronaldo lines up to take a free kick on the edge of the South American side’s box. But the star forward’s attempt is blocked, resulting in another corner kick for Portugal.

Nothing comes from it after a poor delivery sends the ball drifting over Portuguese heads in the box.

18 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Portugal dominating the ball

Uruguay is still struggling to get any control of the ball as the game nears its half-hour mark.

Portugal continues to dominate possession but will be hoping to do more with it as they are still yet to create a clear-cut chance.

29 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Preparation

Bentancur fires straight at Costa

Rodrigo Bentancur does brilliantly work his way through Portugal’s defense but squanders the game’s best chance yet, firing straight at Diogo Costa.

33 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Felix looking lively for Portugal

Portuguese forward Joao Felix looks lively for his side this evening, offering a threat from the left.

An attempt from distance flies wide but marks a warning shot for Uruguay, who must do more to close the 23-year-old Athletico Madrid star down.

35 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Big save!

Bentancur, booked in the sixth minute, glides between Portugal defenders, then shoots straight at the goalkeeper.

If that went in from Rodrigo Bentancur, it would have been one of the best World Cup goals ever.

Patricio keeps Ronaldo out

Another chance for Portugal as a cross in from the right lands on Cristiano Ronaldo’s chest near the six-yard box, but the star forward is unable to convert as he fires straight at Rui Patricio.

37 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Neves booked

Ruben Neves becomes the second player to get himself a yellow card after pulling back Uruguay’s Guillermo Varela.

His foul gives the South American side a free kick in a promising position to the right of Portugal’s box, but nothing comes of the set piece.

40 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Mendes forced off by injury

Portugal’s Nuno Mendes is forced to withdraw from the fray after picking up a knock. Raphael Guerreiro is on to replace him.

42 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Uruguay’s Olivera sees yellow

Uruguay’s Mathias Olivera is booked for blocking a quick free kick by Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes. The left-back is the second Uruguay player to be penalized by the referees after midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was handed a yellow after just six minutes.

44 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Half-time!

All square at the halfway mark after the first half which saw Portugal control the majority of possession but Uruguay fashion the best chance.

In truth, the highly-anticipated clash has yet to kick into gear, but with so much quality on the pitch, the second 45 minutes promises better.

Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes was excellent in the first 45 minutes, winning 100% of his tackles, registering a 93% pass accuracy, and generally stringing together play for his side.

Bruno Fernandes’ first half by numbers vs. Uruguay:

100% of tackles won

93% pass accuracy

42 touches

5/5 long balls completed

2/2 ground duels won

1 cross completed

1 interception

At the heart of every Portugal attack. 🇵🇹

The first half in numbers

How the group stands

At the moment, with Portugal and Uruguay both failing to score, Portugal remains top of Group H with four points. Ghana is second with three.

A win for Portugal here, and they’ll go through to the Round of 16. A draw and it’s all still to play for…

The second half is underway!

Portugal restarts the game after the break and coach Fernando Santos will be hoping that his side can find a way to break the deadlock soon after enjoying so much of the ball in the first half.

Uruguay coach Diego Alonso will meanwhile be keen to see a major improvement from his own charges in the next 45 minutes after a relatively lifeless display until now, barring Rodrigo Bentancur’s one-on-one opportunity in the 33rd minute.

Neither side made any changes at the interval.

46 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

Portugal fail to make the corner count

An early opportunity for Portugal to probe Uruguay’s box after Joao Felix wins a corner from the left.

Bruno Fernandes works the ball out from the set piece situation to Ruben Neves, who launches a cross towards the six-yard box, but it is headed clear by Uruguay and danger is averted for the South American side.

47 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

He’s got to be careful…

Uruguay is going to have to keep their discipline and avoid these unnecessary clumsy challenges if they want to finish the game with 11 men still on the field.

Bentancur has been booked and avoided two more bookings for worse challenges. The next one has to be a red

Neves in discomfort

Portugal’s Ruben Neves appears to be in some discomfort as he makes his way to the sidelines to be assessed by medical staff.

After a quick check, he is declared fit to carry on.

49 mins: Portugal 0-0 Uruguay

GOAL!

Who else? Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo puts his side ahead after heading past Sergio Rochet from a Bruno Fernandes cross.

It marks his 119th goal for the national side and takes him to level with Portuguese legend Eusebio on nine World Cup goals.

54 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

Cristiano Ronaldo. 119 goals with the Portuguese national team. #Qatar2022

Nunez’s effort scooped up by Costa

After a relatively anonymous hour so far, Darwin Nunez pops up to shoot from distance for Uruguay.

Diogo Costa deals with the low-driven effort easily, scooping it up safely.

60 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

Uruguay make two changes

Uruguay coach Diego Alonso has opted to make two substitutions, dragging captain Diego Godin and Matias Vecino off.

Facundo Pellistri and Giorgian De Arrascaeta are on in their place as the South American side seeks an equalizer.

62 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

Rainbow pitch invader

That goal followed a brief stoppage of play while a pitch invader clutching a rainbow flag ran onto the field. His shirt reads “Respect for Iranian Women”.

Pellistri straight into the action

Fresh off the bench Facundo Pellistri is straight into the action, winding his way down the right and sending a cross into Portugal’s box.

The effort is cleared away, but minutes later he is back at it, probing again before knocking the ball out for a goal kick.

65 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

FIFA rules goal was scored by Bruno Fernandes

The goal has officially been ruled as scored by Bruno Fernandes

Goal update…

There seems to have been a revision to the goal-scorer, with Bruno Fernandes now being given credit for the goal previously thought scored by Ronaldo.

Neves makes way for Leao

Portugal’s Ruben Neves makes way for Rafael Leao, who is immediately into the action down the left before being robbed of the ball by Uruguay’s Federico Valverde.

The game is livening up, with end-to-end attacks now being waged.

68 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

Suarez enters the fray

Uruguay turn to their bench once more, with veteran striker Luis Suarez and Maximiliano Gomez brought into the fray.

Darwin Nunez and Edison Cavani make way.

72 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

That’ll keep the pundits busy for a while…

These are the moments that make their way into compilation reels and pub quizzes for years to come.

Gomez goes close for Uruguay

Maximiliano Gomez goes close for Uruguay less than two minutes after being brought on from the bench, striking the post with a low effort from distance.

74 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

One for the cricket fans…

“Flatline on Ultra Edge, no contact with the head. I’m going to recommend you overturn your decision and award the goal to Bruno Fernandes…”

Felix finds himself in the book

Portugal’s Joao Felix is the latest player to earn himself a yellow card after mistiming a challenge on the newly-introduced Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayans fashion a great opportunity for Suarez from the resultant free kick, drilling a ball into the six-yard box, but the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker flashes the ball wide from close.

77 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

Uruguay pressing for equalizer

Another opportunity goes begging for Uruguay, who are beginning to Portugal under real pressure.

Substitute Giorgian De Arrascaeta is slid in by Rodrigo Bentancur but produces a tame effort which is blocked by Diogo Costa.

79 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

It’s always heartbreaking

Ronaldo off as Portugal makes three changes

Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos has made a trio of changes, pulling Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, and William Carvalho making way for Joao Palhinha, Goncalo Ramos, and Matheus Nunes.

82 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

Portugal’s Leao flashes wide

Portugal’s Rafael Leao picks the ball up on the edge of Uruguay’s box and has a pop at goal but his effort flashes harmlessly wide.

Uruguay has meanwhile turned to the bench once more, with Mathias Olivera replaced by Matias Vina.

86 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

Penalty!

Portugal wins a penalty after a VAR review by the referee.

89 mins: Portugal 1-0 Uruguay

GOAL!

Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes puts his side 2-0 ahead and kills the game as a contest after converting from the penalty spot.

The Manchester United midfielder gave Uruguay’s Sergio Rochet no chance, rolling the ball to his left after a trademark stuttering run-up.

91 mins: Portugal 2-0 Uruguay

Nine minutes of extra time

Portugal has five minutes more to negotiate as they seek to book their place in the last 16.

94 mins: Portugal 2-0 Uruguay

Full-time!

Portugal negotiate the final few minutes safely, securing a 2-0 win which guarantees their place in the tournament’s last 16.

Uruguay had their chances but the better side on the night won, with Fernando Santos’ men dominating possession throughout and creating a raft of scoring opportunities, the last of which fell to Bruno Fernandes in the closing minutes as he thudded the post from a strike on the edge of the box.