Uruguay have claimed a 2-1 victory over Portugal in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup, with key striker Edinson Cavani scoring both of their goals.
The South American nation were hardly in the game at times, but their defence did an excellent job, despite conceding their first goal this year in international football.
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A run of 16 clean sheets was broken by the Portuguese in the second half, but with Cristiano Ronaldo unable to find space and make things happen, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Portugal.
By the end of the game, Portugal had 20 shots, but their accuracy was poor with just five on target. That was to go with their ten corners and 67 per cent possession, which saw them have chance after chance.
Led by one of the best defenders in the world though in Diego Godin, Uruguay held their line for most of the game, hardly giving Ronaldo and his teammates a chance at goal unless it was from a set piece, of which there were plenty.
Uruguay made the most of the counter-attack opportunities which presented themselves though.
The first goal was set up by Uruguay’s other key man Luis Suarez. His ball into the penalty area that ended as a cross for Cavani to put one into the back of the net could have easily been passed off as a shot, but left Rui Patricio with no chance of a save in front of goal.
Uruguay took the lead 1-0 into the break, but Portugal then continued to attack after the break, with a goal finally coming off the head of Pepe after a corner.
While that goal came in the 55th minute, it took Uruguay just seven minutes to bounce back. Another counter-attack ended with Edinson Cavani, who put the ball past Patricio into the back of the net, sending Uruguay into the quarter-finals where they will play France on Saturday morning (AEST).
MQ
Guest
Ronaldo destined for La Vecchia Signora? Ronaldo alla Juventus? Dalla Spagna: "Si può" "E' la Juve il club in pole position per ingaggiare Cristiano Ronaldo": la clamorosa indiscrezione arriva dalla Spagna, a firma del quotidiano Marca, solitamente molto ben informato sulle vicende Real Madrid.
Mitcher
Guest
A more delicious brace shall not be sighted. Cavani. Pure next level. The switch and strike from Cavani and Suarez was utterly sublime.
User
Roar Rookie
Agree, both matches brilliant but completely different, way Uruguay stood up in last 15 mins as Portugal threw all they could at them was impressive.
AGO74
Guest
Two brilliant matches this morning. Very different in styles but great to watch. Mbappe albeit against a chaotic Argentina side showed how good this guy can be. Power, pace, technique. Wow. I thought Paul Pogba was excellent as well. Could be the performance to get France rolling. Edinson Cavani upstaging the bigger name Suárez and Ronaldo with two magnificent goals. Hope he’s ok for the France game otherwise that is an enormous blow for Uruguay. Cup now absent of its biggest names in Ronaldo as well as some already massive nations in Germany and now Argentina- this World Cup is wide open.