Chapter 700: Victory Is Always Fascinating
Three days later, Portugal hosted Serbia, another strong opponent in their group.
Compared to the first match, coach Fernando Santos made several lineup adjustments. In midfield, Porto's defensive midfielder Danilo Pereira replaced Rúben Neves. Up front, Brazilian-born striker Diego Souza started for the first time, replacing André Silva. In the previous match, Souza had made his debut for the national team, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute.
Against Serbia, Portugal adopted a 4-4-2 formation with William Carvalho and Danilo Pereira as a double pivot. This adjustment aimed to free Portugal's attack-minded players, especially Bruno Fernandes, who was given even more freedom to roam—left, right, or central, as he saw fit.
Since the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Portugal had remained unbeaten in seven matches and were ranked No. 1 in the FIFA rankings. Serbia, ranked 31st, was also on a strong run, having gone seven matches unbeaten since their 2-0 loss to Brazil in the World Cup group stage. Just three days earlier, Serbia had drawn with Germany in a friendly.
In this group-stage clash, both teams were eager to win. Serbia had already defeated Luxembourg in their opening match, while Luxembourg had secured a surprising 2-1 victory over Lithuania in the first round.
...
The Match Begins
In the 4th minute, João Cancelo sent a cross into Serbia's penalty area, creating chaos. William Carvalho found himself with a great opportunity in front of a semi-open goal but shockingly missed.
Portugal's wasted chance was quickly punished.
In the 7th minute, Dušan Tadić lobbed a pass into the box. Serbia's midfielder Gaćinović arrived and attempted a chip shot that missed the target, but Rui Patrício collided with him while coming out to defend.
The referee awarded a penalty. Tadić stepped up and coolly converted with his left foot, sending Patrício the wrong way.
Trailing early, Portugal launched relentless attacks.
10th minute: Cristiano Ronaldo's powerful shot from outside the box was brilliantly saved by Serbian goalkeeper Dmitrović.16th minute: Bruno Fernandes had a chance inside the penalty area, but Dmitrović denied him as well.23rd minute: Portugal delivered a cross from the left. Bruno executed a backheel flick near the front post, setting up Ronaldo, whose shot was blocked by defender Milenković. Ronaldo was then brought down, but no foul was called, leaving Ronaldo furious.
Portugal dominated possession but struggled to find a way past Serbia's defense.
Ronaldo Substituted
In the 28th minute, Ronaldo chased a long pass but fell to the ground, clutching his right arm where his captain's armband was. His body language made it clear he was preparing to leave the match.
After brief treatment on the sidelines, Ronaldo was unable to continue. In the 30th minute, he was substituted off for Benfica midfielder Pizzi. Before leaving, Ronaldo handed the captain's armband to Bruno Fernandes, acknowledging the applause of the Estádio da Luz crowd.
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Bruno Takes Charge
Despite Ronaldo's departure, Portugal's attacks continued unabated. The first half was intense, with both teams moving at a blistering pace.
In the 42nd minute, Bruno Fernandes collected the ball in midfield and drove forward. Four Serbian players attempted to block his path, but Bruno paused momentarily before accelerating again, breaking through their lines. Near the edge of the penalty area, he unleashed a powerful shot, sending the ball rocketing into Serbia's net.
This was Bruno's 60th goal in his 51st appearance for Portugal, bringing the score to 1-1.
Second Half
The tempo slowed slightly in the second half. Despite dominating midfield, Portugal struggled to penetrate Serbia's defensive lines and resorted to long-range efforts.
In the 57th minute, André Silva replaced Diego Souza, but the lack of finishing continued to frustrate Portugal.
In the 71st minute, Bruno delivered a pinpoint cross from the left. André Silva's header glanced to the far post, where Bernardo Silva sent a low pass across the goal. Pizzi attempted a sliding shot from close range, but Serbian defender Rukavina cleared it off the line.
Controversy in the 73rd Minute
Bruno whipped in a cross from the right, and André Silva's header struck Rukavina's outstretched arm in the penalty area. It was a clear handball, but after consulting with the linesman, the referee chose not to award a penalty. Portugal's players and coach protested vehemently, but the decision stood.
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Late Drama
Portugal refused to give up, continuing to press for a winner in front of their home crowd.
In the 84th minute, Gonçalo Guedes replaced Danilo Pereira, signaling Santos' intent to go all out for the victory.
In the dying moments of the match, Portugal's persistence paid off.
Serbia packed their defensive lines around the 30-meter mark, thwarting Guedes' attack on the right. Forced to pass backward, he found Cancelo. The right-back surged forward, scanning the crowded penalty area for an opening.
At this moment, Bruno Fernandes suddenly dropped back into the center and raised his hand to signal for the ball.
João Cancelo sent a long pass, delivering the ball precisely to Bruno's feet. Bruno controlled it with his chest and deftly shifted it diagonally to the left.
Serbia's right-back Rukavina quickly closed him down, tightly marking Bruno, while Radonjić moved in swiftly to assist.
One-on-one, Serbian defenders struggled to contain Bruno, so head coach Krstajić had instructed his players to prioritize defensive support. This scenario had occurred multiple times earlier in the match, but this time, it was slightly different.
As the ball had been rapidly switched from the right flank to the left, Serbia's entire defensive line was still in the process of adjusting. Radonjić wasn't able to form a double-team with Rukavina as quickly as before, leaving a slight delay in their coverage.
Bruno had been waiting for an opportunity. Spotting the gap between Rukavina and Radonjić, he seized the moment without hesitation, opting for a swift burst forward.
His acceleration was blistering, darting diagonally toward the penalty area. Rukavina was positioned slightly to the left, while Radonjić was a step behind. Despite reacting quickly, the two Serbian defenders couldn't close the narrow gap in time. Bruno surged between them with unmatched speed and control, carrying the ball through their attempted blockade.
The entire sequence happened in just one or two seconds, leaving Sky Sports commentator Andy Gray barely enough time to react.
...
Commentary erupts:
"Cancelo with the wide switch... to Bruno!"
"Bruno on the ball... forcing his way through!"
"Magnificent!"
"Bruno's pace is incredible! He's broken through two Serbian defenders and is charging toward the edge of the box!"
Serbian center-back Spajić immediately abandoned marking André Silva and rushed forward to confront Bruno, hoping to block him from entering the penalty area.
As Spajić closed in, Bruno suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Then, with a subtle feint, he appeared to be cutting toward the center. Spajić reacted instantly, moving to block the apparent cut. But Bruno, with a quick flick of his right foot, shifted the ball in the opposite direction.
"Bruno's quick footwork beats Spajić!"
With Spajić left behind, Bruno accelerated into the penalty area with explosive speed.
Serbian goalkeeper Dmitrović had already positioned himself to cover the right side of the goal, anticipating Bruno's approach. But the play was moving faster than expected. As Bruno burst into the six-yard box, he used the outside of his right foot to roll a low shot toward the left side of the goal.
The ball slid past Dmitrović's outstretched arm, narrowly evading his grasp.
Serbia's left-back Mladenović chased back desperately, sliding in to clear the ball off the line. But his effort came too late; he slid into the net alongside the ball as it crossed the goal line.
...
Commentary erupts again:
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
"It's in!!!"
"In the 87th minute, Portugal has finally taken the lead again!"
"Bruno Fernandes scores!!!"
"A sensational brace! Bruno breaks Serbia's defense once more with an outstanding goal!"
The Estádio da Luz erupted in thunderous cheers.
Bruno turned and sprinted out of the pitch, arms outstretched like wings, gliding across the turf of the stadium before sliding to his knees in celebration near the corner flag.
Sweat dripped down his face, but his expression was one of sheer elation.
A brace! He relished the thrill of scoring.
Soon, Pepe and the other Portuguese players rushed over to him. The veteran defender embraced Bruno tightly from behind, laughing and celebrating with an exuberance that made it seem as though he had scored the goal himself.
Bernardo Silva, Gonçalo Guedes, João Cancelo, and the rest of the Portuguese squad piled on, celebrating Bruno's pivotal goal.
Scoring at this stage of the match all but sealed Portugal's victory. Having defeated both Ukraine and Serbia—two of their toughest group-stage opponents—Portugal was now firmly in control of the group standings.
This outcome was crucial for securing not just qualification but the coveted top spot in the group.
Though Portugal had already secured a place in the European Championship through the Nations League, victory is always irresistible.
(Chapter ends)
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