In a dramatic start to their European Championship campaign, Portugal clinched a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, thanks to a stoppage-time goal by substitute Francisco Conceicao.
The match, held on Tuesday, saw Conceicao make an immediate impact after entering the game in the 90th minute. In the 92nd minute, he seized upon a deflected shot from fellow substitute Pedro Neto, firing the ball into the net just inside the left post.
“The players that came off the bench showed that the team has a lot of options,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez remarked, highlighting the depth of his squad.
Conceicao’s celebration mirrored a family legacy; almost 24 years to the day, his father, Sergio Conceicao, scored a memorable hat-trick that eliminated defending champions Germany from Euro 2000.
Despite multiple efforts, Portugal’s star forward Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to add to his record of 14 European Championship goals. The 39-year-old made history by becoming the first player to appear in six European Championship tournaments, extending his record to 26 appearances in the competition.
Veteran defender Pepe also set a record, becoming the oldest player to participate in the tournament at 41 years old. Portugal dominated possession and created numerous chances throughout the match, with the Czech Republic’s goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek producing several key saves to keep his side in contention.
The Czech Republic put up a resilient fight, but Conceicao’s late strike dashed their hopes of securing a point in their opening game. The result places Portugal in a strong position as they look forward to the rest of the tournament.
The European Championship continues to captivate football fans around the world, including in Asia, where the sport’s popularity is on the rise. Enthusiasts and analysts alike will be watching to see if Portugal can leverage this momentum in pursuit of continental glory.
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Conceicao's stoppage goal gets Portugal a winning start at Euro 2024
cgtn.com
