The Portugal Under-19 Football Team, previously selected for the 2023 European Men’s Championship, won their third victory in three games in group 4 of the qualifying round of the elite tournament on Tuesday, defeating Croatia 3-0.
In the match at the Cidade de Barcelos stadium, the team under coach Joaquim Milleiro controlled the game from start to finish and ended the triumph with goals from Gustavo Sa in the 15th minute, Diego Moreira in the 54th minute and Hugo Felix. , in the 76th minute, which allowed him to score nine points and qualify ahead of the Czech Republic, Sweden and Croatia.
With eight substitutions compared to “eleven” in Saturday’s 3-0 triumph against the Czech Republic, the Portuguese side converted three opening opportunities to score against Diego Moreira, António Ribeiro and Samuel Justo before gaining advantage in Gustavo Sa’s kick to the bottom left corner .
The duel lost momentum after the first goal and the Balkan team “sighed” into more difficult terrain, as happened in the 25th minute when Antonio Tikvich headed the crossbar ahead of Niko Geisler’s rebound but out of position in the game.
The Kinas team regained the offensive initiative in the second half and extended the lead in the first 10 minutes: Diego Moreira shot out of Borna Bulana’s reach after Rodrigo Ribeiro’s pass.
Portuguese dominance continued until the final whistle, with no surprises following Diogo Pinto’s goal, with the third goal coming early in the last quarter of an hour in a partnership between the two Feliches on the field, with midfielder Nuno assisting striker Hugo. , which rounded the Croatian goalkeeper before hitting the back of the desert gate.
European champion at the level for the first time in Finland in 2018, Portugal is one of the teams that will compete in the final stage of the competition, from 3 to 16 July, along with host Malta and the winning teams of the six remaining groups. Tour from Elite.
Game at the stadium Cidade de Barcelos.
Croatia – Portugal, 0:3.
During the break: 0-1.
Labels:
0:1, Gustavo Sa, 15 minutes.
0-2, Diego Moreira, 54.
0-3, Hugo Felix, 76 years old.
Teams:
– Croatia: Borna Bulyan, Lovro Gubljan, Maro Katinic, Moreno Zivkovic, Antonio Tikvich, Domagoj Bukvich, Roko Brajkovic (Marin Soticek 46), Andro Babić, Marko Kapan (Fabian Krivak 29), Gabriel Rukavina (Noel Bodetić 82) and Niko Geisler (“Kill Antunovich”, 65).
(Alternates: Tin Saiko, Niko Dolonga, Noel Bodetic, Fabijan Krivak, Matej Matic, Marin Soticek, Fran Topic and Mate Antunovic).
Coach: Josip Simunich.
– Portugal: Diogo Pinto, Gonçalo Esteves (Martim Marques, 62), António Ribeiro, Gabriel Bras, David Monteiro, Nuno Felix, Samuel Justo (Darió Essugo, 83), Gustavo Sa (Mateos Fernandes, 62), Afonso Moreira (Carlos Borges) ) , 62), Diego Moreira (Hugo Felix, 73) and Rodrigo Ribeiro.
(Alternates: André Gomez, Joao Muniz, Martim Marquez, Dario Essugo, Joao Neves, Mateus Fernandes, Hugo Felix, Carlos Borges and Youssef Cermiti).
Coach: Joaquim Milleiro.
Referee: Robert Jones (England).
Disciplinary sanctions: Nuno Felix (45+2), Andro Babich (50), Samuel Justo (64), Fabizhan Krivak (74) and Lovro Gubizhan (90+1).
Attendance: about 1500 spectators.