itsbeautifuloutside

Match Report

IBO Guest Reporter: St.Baz

Uruguay 2 Portugal 1

Just a matter of weeks after your match reporter was born the Uruguayan nation celebrated by winning the world cup for the second time. They didn’t achieve much in the following decades other than gain themselves a reputation as a truculent and aggressive outfit – a typical South American oufit then. The managers job and running of the national team and its hoped for renaissance was handed to Oscar Tabarez , for the second time, in 2006 and he has produced a team capable of wonderful football. Its been a long haul for this 71 year old man, with both personal and professional battles in his journey to Russia 2018. Among the highlights since first becoming Uruguay’s manager in 1988 are stories such as Ron the Police Dog biting el mono, the monkey and Luis Suarez biting Giorgio Chiellini. I hadn’t seen Uruguay at the tournament before this game, their first knockout match, but their record of three straight wins and no goals conceded was no fluke, if last night’s performance was anything to go by.

Both teams looked confident in the line-up; the spectator looked with interest to see how assured the stars looked – the self-conscious gurning of Ronaldo, the fire in Suarez’s eyes and wondered if Pepe had been rehearsing his party piece in the local splash pool. Of interest to Saints fans; was there a place for Fonte? …. Yes; Cáceres?….Yes; Cédric?…..unfortunately not.

Both teams set out to score, this was not going to be a dull match. Early doors, Ronaldo had an early shot that was saved by the keeper, Portugal had a header over the bar. At the other end, Fonte, who it seems has been assigned to keep Suarez from scoring , blocks his man’s cross for a Uruguay corner. Pepe has fallen over for the second time in five minutes.

Then a moment of exquisite football, Cavani out wide on the right spots his teammate, Suarez out wide, left. Suarez collects the inch perfect pass and picking his moment, puts in a killer cross in toward the far post, where Cavani rose to meet it - face first he ploughed into the ball to make it 1-0 to Uruguay.

Portugal continue to dig out, but Uruguay’s defence, 10 strong at times, are so well organised that they are kept at arms length. Cáceres upends Fonte close to the penalty box D; Suarez upended by Fonte; Free Kicks to both sides; Bernardo Silva impressive; Suarez gets decked by Raphael. Don’t take your eyes off the screen for a minute. With two minutes added to complete the first half, Uruguay retire for a half-time cuppa - Portugal had been playing with both confidence and belief - unfortunately for them Uruguay just looked masterful believing that ‘Nobody scores against us!’

It wasn't hubris that made a goal come when it did - Godin was so concentrating on Ronaldo at a Portugal short corner (on 54') that Pepe stole in to a gap and, throwing himself at the ball rather than the ground, scored with a header to make it 1-1.

It wasn’t long before Uruguay retook the lead - from a goal kick, the ball reached Cavani upfield on the left and with a sublime shot across the face of Riu Patricio and into the goal to the left of a well-beaten goalkeeper.

Bernardo Silva continually working well again; Quaresma brought on for Portugal to give them some more width; Cavani injured and helped off by Ronaldo in minute 70.

Portugal are pressing at every opportunity, but Uruguay are able to cope with it, soaking up all the Iberian ’s efforts. Santos, the Portuguese manager, looking helplessly on from the touchline, his face visibly crumbling and resembling more and more a very unhappy-looking Sid James. All is in vain for Portugal and an almost-untroubled Uruguay see out the remaining time.

What could have in years past, turned out to be a niggly, ill-tempered game, actually produced a fine game of football, much enjoyed by this watcher. Only one yellow card, and fast-flowing football. You wouldn’t bet against Uruguay going all the way - but France may have something to say about that.