oh good evening wherever you are on this most pleasant evening
there has been a clamor to get inside the ground tonight for a much anticipated game
the roads outside of the stadium have been bumper to bumper with traffic the car parks are full
there is a torrent of humankind making its way from the nearby station
and we expect every seat to be filled an atmosphere of a great expectation and excitement
and this must be amongst the favorite arenas of supporters all over the world
it really does have a very special feel to it and so we stand for the anthems
well that was impressive match that
jim who do you reckon he's pivotal yeah bernardo silva he's a real box of tricks
peter with a a super first touch and a really nice silky smooth dribbling style he's also
got an eye for a telling pass and he's a more than decent finisher too
what we don't usually comment on is his phenomenal work rate and that will be a standout
for this team over the course i can assure you yeah he'll be looking for a goal or two
and we're underway
bernardo silva looks to dink one in and it's hoisted clear bruno fernandez
it's bernardo silva a real chance to break
tries to locate someone up front
could be a chance here that's just very well played
he can't hurt you with his back to goal and he didn't go for the back heel
and the through ball is intercepted
forward it goes well that's where he wants it
moutinho plays it forward looking to break out here
jota jotter with the cross and he's there to cut it out
tries to get it forward quickly
ciao moutinho bernardo silva
pepe does well
oh that's nice
forward checking back like that always appreciated by the crowd
well they say that your front lads should be that first line of um of stopping the opposition and
i think he's taking it to another level with his desire to get back and help everyone out
and he's looking at the referee but the riff has a pop that has certainly tested
the keeper the keeper really dug out his defense then a magnificent effort
they've played it short
turns and goes back bernardo silva displaying his defensive capabilities there that's no
strikers tackle you have to admire commitment like that because he could easily ignore
that and just kind of walk around and let others do all the changes cristiano ronaldo
goal portugal and portugal score first
yeah the pass was bang on and he just had to ensure he didn't stray offside
the finish was actually bang on too
portugal themselves into the lead surprise surprise he just keeps on
delivering and listen we all expect that it's been intercepted and that will come to nothing
and it's bernardo silva and here's cristiano ronaldo
gets it up field
more than happy to take the muscular approach
guerrero can see it's a free kick for that
bernardo silva with good energy and defense as well
i think it's great to see that kind of application and desire from a forward who wants to set a goal
and it's paid forward well positioned to make that interception bernardo silva
hoist it forward pepe cuts it out joe moutinho
cristiano ronaldo
goes for goal goal
a two goal lead and they're firmly in control
portugal are really pouncing on any straight passes in midfield we're talking seconds from
interception to the back of the net it's counter-attacking heaven
so that's two now without reply the turning of the screw comes to mind peter
they've got them where they want them
tries to get it forward quickly
it goes and that's put paid to a promising move
jota and here's cristiano ronaldo goes for goal good first touch and almost as good a second
ah that's a great effort there was very little back lift to indicate what was coming
and that'll be the last act of the first half back on the first 45 minutes well it's
looking pretty straightforward peter they've got themselves into a very good position
so why did portugal in control at halftime 2-0 already up and running for the second half
it's a loose ball jotter jotter goes on a charge down the left
neither side really getting hold of the ball well it did look promising to start
with but in the end they were thwarted before they could even make it into the final third
that intervention was very necessary jota jota going full tilt down the left
could try cutting inside here he's got away
gets the chance to cross oh well defended that had to be done i've managed to get it away
there is some activity down on the touchline it seems there's got to be a change
danilo pereira has he found his
man while the crowd clearly liked what they just saw some real no-nonsense defending
out of play for a goal kick
guerrero
jota and here's cristiano ronaldo he's through well red he sorted that out
gets into a dangerous position ruben diaz
positions himself well and cuts it out hoists it forward rui patricio will lay claim to that
bruno fernandez ronaldo is effectively being marked out of the game here yeah now that
he scored this defense is on high alert whenever he he goes anywhere near the ball
too long and over the line
it's over the line and that'll be a goal kick
looking he's gone for it just swings wide that's just plain unlucky
there were many me included who thought that was going in
and it's paid forward and it's moutinho
yeah that does look a foul referee's given a free kick
he gets a ticking off and needs to be very careful now
well he knew what he was taking on there peter and special delivery from the ref joao moutinho
defenders on the back foot
well the moans and groans from the stands now are very audible and it's cristiano ronaldo
he's him surely
forward it goes
gets it back cristiano ronaldo good challenge he just stood firm
ronaldo tore at them and just came up short
oh look his determination needed to be greater than the obstacle he was faced with and it wasn't
plays it out to the flank ball who's going to get that looks to clip it forward
ronaldo already with two goals under his belt and he's just a keeper and bonanno silva
good run lovely take but that is where it stopped i think that defense will be
feeling mightily relieved now they were really saved by some poor finishing then
just brushed off the ball there
hoist it forward he's made sure that that won't get through his left suit
well that's where he wants it
good idea just poorly executed
tries to get it forward quickly great strength too strong for his opponent
battles to win it back
now it's cristiano ronaldo he has a pop
oh that's a terrific save from the keeper well what can i say truly wonderful goalkeeping
it's being played forward and that's it a decent win by a very competent performance
without doubt they were the better side and the result
reflects as much so jim how do you reflect on what we've seen yeah we knew there was a sizable