Portugal’s UEFA EURO 2024 journey kicked off in spectacular fashion as they edged out a resilient Czechia side with a nail-biting last-minute goal from substitute Francisco Conceicao, clinching a 2-1 victory in early hours of Wednesday IST.
From the first whistle, Portugal commanded the pitch, dominating possession and crafting numerous opportunities. Yet, the resilient Czechia defence stood firm, frustrating Portugal’s star forward, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Playing in a record-breaking sixth Euro finals, Ronaldo saw his efforts twice thwarted by the heroic Czech goalkeeper, Jindrich Stanek, in the first half.
The game took an unexpected turn in the 62nd minute when Czechia seized the lead with a stunning strike from Lukas Provod. But their joy was short-lived; just seven minutes later, an unfortunate own goal by Robin Hranac levelled the score, bringing Portugal back into the contest.
As the clock ticked towards a draw, the tension reached its peak. In the 90+2 minute, Francisco Conceicao pounced on a loose ball in the box, slotting it home to secure Portugal’s thrilling victory.
Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, lauded his team’s determination and highlighted Conceicao’s crucial contribution. “Today was tough, but our reaction showed we deserved the win. Francisco is the ultimate example of ‘earning it.’ He proved he was ready to step up,” Mart?nez declared.
On the other side, Czechia’s coach, Ivan Hasek, expressed his disappointment at conceding so late but praised his team’s defensive grit. “We made it very difficult for Portugal, one of the best teams in the world. It’s disappointing to concede in added time,” Hasek remarked.
