Bernardo scores in Portugal triumph, Gvardiol helps Croatia complete comeback win | OneFootball

Bernardo scores in Portugal triumph, Gvardiol helps Croatia complete comeback win | OneFootball

Icon: Manchester City F.C.

Manchester City F.C.

·12 de outubro de 2024

Bernardo scores in Portugal triumph, Gvardiol helps Croatia complete comeback win

Imagem do artigo:Bernardo scores in Portugal triumph, Gvardiol helps Croatia complete comeback win

Bernardo Silva's goal helped Portugal pick up a third Nations League win following their 3-1 victory over Poland on Saturday evening.

Ruben Dias also featured in his nation's win which sees Portugal stay top of their group.


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Elsewhere, Josko Gvardiol featured for the entirety of Croatia’s 2-1 comeback win over Scotland.

And Manuel Akanji played 90 minutes in Switzerland's 2-0 Nations League defeat to Serbia.

For Portugal, Silva put his nation ahead on 26 minutes, slotting home Bruno Fernande's headed pass.

11 minutes later, Portugal's pressure became too much for Poland again. Rafael Leao's effort rebounded off the post to Cristiano Ronaldo who dispatched the loose ball from close range.

The visitor's continued to dominate possession in the second half, with Dias and his defensive team-mates not tested too often.

But Poland would finally break through and pull one goal back.

Piotre Zielinksi scored on 78 minutes but Portugal restored their two-goal lead two minutes before full-time after Jan Bednarek put the ball into the back of his own net.

For Croatia, City’s Gvardiol was deployed as a left-sided centre-back in a back three.

Despite Croatia dominating possession in the opening half-hour, it was Scotland who took the lead. Ryan Christie fired his nation ahead on 33 minutes.

But the hosts were quick to retaliate and it took Croatia just three minutes to equalise.

Igor Matanovic found the back of the net with a composed strike after being played through by Ivan Perisic.

The score remained level at half-time and it was Croatia who started the second half the strongest, looking intent on extending their winning form.

After prodding and poking at the Scotland goal, Andrej Kramaric finally fired Croatia ahead in the 70th minute. He was the quickest to react to the rebound after Borna Sosa saw his initial effort saved.

Christie had a chance to level the score just over 10 minutes before full-time but his shot flew high over the crossbar.

Gvardiol helped Croatia manage the game in the closing minutes – a strong defensive outing which saw Scotland fail to register a shot on target in the second half.

Imagem do artigo:Bernardo scores in Portugal triumph, Gvardiol helps Croatia complete comeback win

Drama in the closing seconds saw Scotland equalise through Che Adams but the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside in the build-up.

The win means Croatia sit second in their group with six points from three games and in second-place behind Portugal with nine points.

For Switzerland in Group 4, it was a tough night in Serbia for Akanji and his team-mates.

Nico Elvedi's own goal on the brink of half-time, that put Serbia ahead, went against the run of play.

And despite Switzerland's four shots on target in the second half, and again dominating play, it would be Serbia who would find the second goal.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's solo run saw him take Switzerland by surprise in the 67th minute.

Akanji's team-mate Breel Embolo failed to convert from the penalty spot five minutes later as Serbia held out for a 2-0 win.

Imagem do artigo:Bernardo scores in Portugal triumph, Gvardiol helps Croatia complete comeback win
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