Last group stage game against Armenia. Just a word to say that Armenian tv editing has been nothing but a disaster. Throughout the competition there has been countless mistakes on the lineups, today the Armenian team was being filmed while the Portuguese anthem was playing...Clearly their TV technicians are at the level of their footballers...
Portugal 1-0 at the half thanks to a PK. Mostly one-way traffic, but Armenia came close to equalizing right after Portugal took the lead shortly after the half hour mark. More interestingly, Italy leads Spain 1-0. If that result stands, Spain will be out.
Stunning goal from Joao Mario to make it 2-0 in the 50th. A shot was blocked on the edge of the penalty area and deflected high in the air. JM on the left side controls it with his right foot - and turns his defender - with one touch to the inside and with his next touch curls a right-footed shot around the keeper and inside the far post.
3-0, 67th. Nice interchange on the left, JM lofts a short cross to Gouveia, who heads it in. The match has been extremely lopsided after halftime.
4-0, Final. Top of the group too. Missed the fourth, but apparently it was Gouveia. Spain came back to win and secure the other SF spot.
It depends. He came in and quickly scored (and then did again), but that was after Joao Mario made it 2-0 and Armenia offered little resistance from the second goal onward. Gouveia also came on for Vieira, so he obviously won't take Fabio's spot. Tiago Rodrigues struggled a bit up front, so Gouveia could be used in his place. Rodrigues wasn't bad, he just couldn't quite find the right finish despite numerous chances.
Found a replay on Reddit of Gouveia's second and it was a banger. He gathered a poor clearance by the Armenian GK about 40 yards out, dribbled by a couple defenders and unleashed a sweet strike from the center-right edge of the penalty area to the left side netting.
Yeah, I've been watching via the UEFA TV app, but stumbled across a replay of that goal I missed before I had to go looking for it. The app is great, BTW. I just wish it was on streaming devices (Roku, Apple TV, etc.).
Portugal leads 1-0 thanks to a deserved PK ~30 minutes into the match. Naturally, after having nearly all the possession and chances while facing zero threat from Ireland, the Irish respond to the PK by having a shot cleared off the line and then fire another would-be goal off the crossbar within a couple minutes of the Portugal opener. Joao Mario won the PK and Vitor Ferriera scored it.
Portugal worked the ball around the final third, a pass was slid down to Ferreira (I believe) on the left inside the area, he worked to create space at the end line and sent over a short cross that skimmed off the top of the crossbar and fell right to Ramos waiting for it at the far post, who headed it in.
Ramos with a clean header in front of goal from a cross, but Ireland's keeper leaves his feet to catch it to prevent a third.
Portugal nearly gets a third (again) shortly after the restart. Ramos beat his defender and got to the ball before the oncoming GK, but didn't get a touch when a redirection was all that was necessary. Perfect pass ahead from the left side.
3-0. Ireland giveaway, Portugal counter. Joao Mario takes a pass moving toward goal on the inside right of the penalty area, pulls defense toward the goal, passes it back toward the penalty spot for a first-touch finish by Ramos. Now the 61st minute.
Ramos completes the hat trick with a goal in the 90+6th minute. It's nice to see a Portugal team that's not afraid to really put a match to bed. The amount of talent in Portugal's 18-20 age range alone is crazy right now. Goal came from a throw in, pass to Ramos in the area, then a close-range goal after dribbling at the defender. 4-0, FT. Judging by this match, Portugal should see Spain again in a few days (France beat Ireland 1-0 with a late goal).
A group game rematch with Spain in the final then. France went out to Spain on penalties without conceding a goal throughout the tournament.
Great to see Goncalo Ramos move to the centre forward position. Was more of an attacking mid but he’s Shot up in height and muscle, moves like a centre forward now. Similar style to Suarez. Youngest player in the squad born in 2001, looks like Benfica have another gem on their hands just in case they were running out. I have to say the level on individual quality in these sides at the moment is just silly.
Considering we're missing almost an entire starting 11 with Benfica/Porto keeping them in their pre-season squads, we've done exceptionally well. 3rd U19 final in a row.