Portugal vs Mexico: Live Updates, Score and Reaction
Portugal (National Football)vs
Mexico (National Football)
Russia’s dress rehearsal for the 2018 World Cup is upon us with the Confederations Cup, and the second game of the competition sees Portugal face off against Mexico. Fernando Santos’ Portugal are still on a high after winning last year’s European Championship and they will be determined to prove that was no flash in the pan. They have an exciting crop of talent to support Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, but it will be a tough test against a battle-hardened Mexico side.
- June 18, 2017
FT: Portugal 2-2 Mexico
Scorers: Quaresma (35'), Hernandez (42'), Cedric (86'), Moreno (90+2')
POR: Patricio; Cedric, Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro; Moutinho (Adrien Silva), Carvalho, Gomes; Quaresma (Andre Silva), Ronaldo, Nani (Gelson Martins).
MEX: Ochoa; Moreno, Salcedo (Araujo), Reyes; Vela (G. dos Santos), J. dos Santos, Guardado, Herrera, Layun; Jimenez (Peralta), Hernandez.
FT: Portugal 2-2 Mexico
It's all over—Mexico grab a late point as they peg back Portugal for a second time in the contest.
Hector Moreno's header in injury time equalised after Cedric had struck for the Portuguese. Quaresma and Hernandez scored in the first half of an entertaining encounter in Group A. A draw feels just about right in the end.
- Invalid Date
- June 18, 2017
90+2'—Yellow Card (Andre Gomes)
Andre Gomes is booked, supposedly for complaining about something that happened during Mexico's equalising goal. Hard to see what there was to moan about, though.
90+1'—GOAL MEXICO! (Moreno)
Drama in Kazan! Hector Moreno spares Mexico from defeat with an injury-time equaliser, nodding home a gorgeous inswinging corner from the left wing.
88'—Chances at Both Ends! (2-1)
After Hernandez can't get the ball shifted out from under his feet to fire away a shot at one end, Portugal break quickly and see Gelson Martins push a shot on the turn narrowly wide.
The video ref was called in to check Cedric's goal, by the way. Unlike Nani's effort in the first-half, however, this time the strike counted.
86'—GOAL PORTUGAL! (Cedric)
Portugal take the lead as Cedric Soares scores his first international goal. Herrera set up the full-back when he deflected Gelson Martins' cross into Cedric's pass, then compounds that error by deflecting the full-back's shot beyond goalkeeper Ochoa.
85'—Great Save!
Ochoa keeps Portugal out, diving to his right to deny Andre Silva making an immediate impact. Wonderful header back across goal from Andre Gomes' cross, but Mexico's goalkeeper denies the substitute.
82'—Portugal Substitution
Quaresma OFF—Andre Silva ON.
Just before being replaced, Quaresma had a first-time drive at goal that Ochoa comfortably kept at bay. Giovani then wasted a good opportunity for Mexico at the other end soon after, going for goal himself when Guardado was better placed to his left.
79'—Mexico Substitution
Jimenez OFF—Oribe Peralta ON.
75'—Portugal 1-1 Mexico
15 to go and as the official attendance is announced (34,372), those watching will perhaps hope to see a little more action in the closing stages.
Withdrawing Nani has made Portugal tougher to play through, yet they're also struggling to pose a threat in attack. Ronaldo's left alone up top—a taxing task, even for a player of his quality.
73'—Yellow Card (Guardado)
A trip on Ronaldo gets Guardado a booking. Portugal then waste the free-kick opportunity, whacking the set piece way beyond just the four men in red shirts waiting inside Mexico's penalty area.
70'—Hernandez Halted (1-1)
Chicharito appears to have nicked the ball ahead of Adrien Silva before sliding a pass in behind to pick out the run of Giovani dos Santos. However, the attack is soon stopped by the referee's whistle—Hernandez is judged to have used a high foot to take possession.
68'—Yellow Card (Adrien Silva)
A deliberate trip on Giovani dos Santos sees fellow sub Adrien Silva not only pick up the first card of the match but also of the entire tournament (there were none shown in Russia's win over New Zealand on Saturday).
66'—Mexico Substitution
Salcedo OFF—Nestor Araujo ON.
Second change made by Mexico coach Osorio—and it appears there could also be a switch in system, too. 3-4-3 looks the more likely lineup for El Tri now with the arrival of centre-back Araujo.
60'—Portugal 1-1 Mexico
No real moments of note in what has, so far, been a quiet second half. Substitutions won't help the flow of the game either.
58'—Portugal Substitutions
Nani OFF—Gelson Martins ON.
Moutinho OFF—Adrien Silva ON.
A double change for the reigning European champions—and two new faces who are attracting interest from Premier League clubs, apparently. Gelson has been linked to Liverpool and Manchester United, while Tottenham Hotspur are said to be chasing Silva.
57'—Mexico Substitution
Vela OFF—Giovani dos Santos ON.
That's both Dos Santos brothers now on the field for El Tri.
52'—Mexico on Top (1-1)
Just as was the case in the first half, El Tri are the team making the early running. Fonte's clearing header only falls as far as Jimenez, who collects possession and then tries his luck with a low shot that Pepe deflects wide for a corner.
48'—Near Miss for Mexico (1-1)
Guardado curls over a glorious free-kick from the left, his out-swinging delivery forcing goalkeeper Patricio to stay at home as the ball drifts invitingly through the six-yard box. Jimenez tries to stretch out and apply the finishing touch, yet only makes contact with fresh air.
Stat Alert!
HT: Portugal 1-1 Mexico
A goal apiece in the first half, with another wiped out thanks to the use of video technology.
Portugal hit the front when the unselfish Ronaldo set up Quaresma for a straightforward finish, only for Mexico to hit back with Hernandez's firm header from Vela's volleyed cross.
45'—Chicharit-No! (1-1)
Vela and Jimenez combine on the right to tee up Hernandez, who just has to run onto the cut-back cross and hit the target. Instead, he sends his first-time shot high, high into the stand.
GOAL MEXICO! (Hernandez—42')
An equaliser for El Tri!
Guerreiro gets his headed clearance all wrong, allowing Vela to receive the ball at the back post and clip over a right-footed cross that picks out Chicharito's run. Beating Pepe to the ball, Mexico's all-time leading scorer plants a powerful header into the bottom right corner of the net.
Quaresma Goal
Wonderful build-up play from Ronaldo, albeit he clearly fancied a goal himself before losing momentum with his run towards the target.
Quaresma's just missed a glorious chance to score again, dragging wide when well place on the edge of Mexico's penalty area.
38'—Heads, You Lose (1-0)
Mexico manufacture a chance for an equaliser. Vela does well down the right to create space for a cross that picks out Chicharito, who gets his header on target but cannot get enough power on the attempt to beat Patricio.
GOAL PORTUGAL! (Quaresma—35')
A breakthrough in Kazan—and no surprise to see Ronaldo at the heart of it.
Salcedo is caught under a long ball towards Portugal's captain, who then heads for goal. Although he gets the ball trapped under his feet, he cuts back and plays a beautiful square pass to pick out Quaresma and allow his colleague to waltz beyond Ochoa to slot into an open goal.
33'—Ochoa Spares Salcedo (0-0)
Carvalho plays a rather hopeful flat cross in hoping to pick out the run of a rather static Nani. Salcedo spots the danger but nearly flicks the ball up and over Ochoa, who back-pedals quickly to tip over.
30'—Portugal 0-0 Mexico
Vela gets a free-kick up over the wall, but his effort tamely drifts wide. Patricio had it covered, too.
Foul was given away by Andre Gomes after Jose Fonte—the defender Mexico are pressing more keenly than any other in Portugal's ranks—softly gave away possession on the edge of his own area.
Disallowed Goal
Seems Pepe never touched the ball before it found the net, judging by the replays. Nani may have been the one to turn it home—and he definitely was onside. However, the offside decision was given for an earlier cross into the penalty area. Took all of 45 seconds for the VAR (video official) to let the referee know.
23'—On a Winger and a Prayer (0-0)
Quaresma has another go from range, this time from a tighter angle on the left. He gets the attempt on target but only ends up providing Ochoa with a bit of catching practice.
Still, Portugal have suddenly sprung to life as an attacking force in the last five or so minutes.
20'—GO...NO! (0-0)
After Ronaldo strikes a left-footed drive against the bar via a deflection off Ochoa's outstretched arm, Portugal keep the ball alive and it appears another shot from distance is turned in at close range by Pepe.
However, after he's celebrated, the officials use video technology to check for offside. Footage shows at least one Portugal player was beyond the last defender when the ball came back into the box.
17'—Portugal Coming to Life (0-0)
How do you deal with Mexico's pressing game? Thump it long onto Ronaldo's head. The tactic allows Portugal to get out and go on the attack, leading to a Quaresma drive that skims wide of the target.
8—Layun Off the Power (0-0)
Full-back Layun gets another chance to cross from the left wing, this time on his favoured right foot. He gets this effort off the ground...but gets far too much on it. The ball sails out for a goal kick.
Layun, by the way, has been linked with Newcastle United of late.
6'—Portugal Caught Sleeping (0-0
Carvalho can't even work a one-two from a throw-in, giving the ball away. Nani tracks back to try and get possession back from Chicharito but only ends up shoving over his former Manchester United team-mate.
Guardado's free-kick is poorly struck, rebounding off the wall before striking Reyes and running out of play for a goal kick.
3'—Speedy Start from Mexico (0-0)
Juan Carlos Osorio's side are the ones making the (very) early running, Layun wasting a good opportunity to put in a cross from the left as his scuffed effort is easily cleared at the front post.
1'—And We're Underway!
After a moment of silence in memory of those who recently lost their lives during the forest fires in Coimbra, Portugal, Mexico get the game started.
Russia enjoyed a winning start in this group yesterday, beating New Zealand. It seems it's two from three in the bid to qualify for the knockout stages.
National Anthem Time
The two teams line up in Kazan ahead of kick-off. It's 365 days since Mexico suffered the ignominy of losing 7-0 to a red-hot Chile side at the Copa America. That's an anniversary they'd happily forget.
Portugal XI
Patricio; Cedric, Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro; Moutinho, Carvalho, Gomes; Quaresma, Ronaldo, Nani.
Mexico XI
Utd to Offer DDG Plus Cash for Ronaldo, Morata
via Tim Daniels
Making a Point
Mexico and Portugal take a point apiece, meaning Russia remain on top in Group A. Draws are not a worry for Portugal—they failed to win any of their first three fixtures at Euro 2016 but still went on to lift the trophy!