Portugal’s best moment of the match and they should really be level. North Macedonia are completed opened up. Jota slides the ball through to Ronaldo, he’s onside with just the goalkeeper to beat. Drags it wide of the far post… very nearly finds that corner.
with a lovely pass out wide to Cancelo and he skips past Alioski. Stands up a cross towards the back post, too high for Ronaldo. Fernandes is there… can he head it back across goal. No Sends is straight over the bar and out for a goal-kick. Jeers are coming out from the Portugal fans, already unimpressed with how much of the ball the visitors are seeing.
Ronaldo dropping deep, almost to right-back to try and get on the ball. North Macedonia will be delighted if he stays there. Ristovski gets forward well on the overlap, should really do better with the cross but it’s blocked immediately by Mendes.
Ademi then hauls Jota to the ground as he tries to break – very fortunate to avoid a yellow card. The left-back combines nicely with Silva, and he has a lot of time to set himself to whip a ball into the box. He does just that, into such a dangerous area… Ronaldo can’t react quickly enough at the back post.
North Macedonia are seeing their fair share of possession in the opening minutes. Doesn’t look like they’ve come to just sit back and frustrate Portugal. That may well suit the hosts though, they’ve got so much quality in attacking areas. Bardhi really should do better. Floats it into the box and Costa is off his line to easily claim.
Launched forward quickly, Jota fouls his man though. Frustrations growing among the home side and the fans. Corner North Macedonia. Taken to the near post, Ademi flicks it on… that will be another corner. Bardhi to take it again, not a great delivery at all and Portugal can clear. Not for long though – Cancelo brings down Kostadinov and the visitors have a free-kick in a great position.
The assist. The finish. ?@Cristiano x @B_Fernandes8
A goal made in Manchester. ?#Ronaldo #BRUNO #Portugalpic.twitter.com/nhpNaxGKEf— Hariş Ahmed (@Iconic_Cr7) March 29, 2022