Vitinha sparks second-half demolition job as Portugal thrash Poland 5-1 in Porto

Portugal crushed Poland 5-1 at the Estádio do Dragão tonight to book their place in the Nations League quarter-finals as winners of Group A1.

The well-known football saying “a game of two halves” could have been invented for this match. A slow, sloppy and sluggish first 45 minutes by the Seleção contrasted sharply to a sparkling second-half performance in which goals by Rafael Leão, Cristiano Ronaldo (x2), Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto overwhelmed the Poles, for whom Dominik Marczuk netted a late consolation.

Vitinha, who came on at the break, was the catalyst for the change and proved tonight that he has to be a starter in Roberto Martínez’s team. Tom Kundert reports. 

Same tactics after Warsaw masterclass  

Roberto Martínez stuck with the same template that had swept Poland aside so impressively last month in Warsaw, with only two changes to the 4-3-3 starting lineup chosen in Warsaw, António Silva and João Neves coming in for the injured Rúben Dias and Rúben Neves. Poland were without star man and captain Robert Lewandowski, the Barcelona striker out with a back problem.

Hopes the Portugal fans may have harboured of a repeat of the recent swashbuckling display against the same opponents initially looked unlikely to be fulfilled. On a rainy night in Porto the Seleção were sluggish, low on energy, out of ideas and second best to a more cohesive Poland side in a forgettable first half for the hosts.

Save an early chance for Portugal when Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva got in each other’s way, it was the visitors who were making all the running.

Poland go close

Bereszynski directed a header straight at Diogo Costa from a promising position, Zalewski then forced the goalkeeper playing in his home stadium into a save, before Bereszynski again came close, only a superb interception by Nuno Mendes avoiding what looked like a certain goal.

Portugal’s players were getting tetchy owing to a series of stoppages for injuries and perceived errors by the referee instead of concentrating on their football, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo picking up yellow cards for overzealous protestations.

Unlike in recent matches, Nuno Mendes was unable to get forward to support Leão who was being crowded out, and Poland continued to look likelier to make the breakthrough. Piatek and Zielinski came close to scoring in quick succession, although the last chance of the half fell to Portugal as Ronaldo knocked Leão’s header across goal over the bar from point-blank range.

Vitamin Vitinha

Martínez brought on Vitinha for his PSG teammate João Neves for the restart and the former Porto midfielder immediately looked in the mood at his old stamping ground.

Vitinha energised Portugal’s midfield with a series of timely interceptions and quick progressive passes. Leão was not far away with a powerful shot from the edge of box and it was evident the tide had turned, although Costa had to produce a diving save in the 58th minute to turn Marczuk’s rasping shot from distance around the post.

Leão-Mendes at it again

Just before the hour mark Portugal scored with the Rafael Leão-Nuno Mendes combination springing into action in devastating fashion. The Milan man picked up the ball deep inside Portugal’s defensive third and embarked on a high-speed dribble towards the opposite box, brushing off several attempts by Polish players to stop him by fair means or foul. Leão laid the ball into the path of the overlapping Mendes and continued his run, Mendes producing a peach of a cross which Leão headed into the net on the run. A beautiful counter-attacking goal.

Renato Veiga and Bruno Fernandes shot over the bar as Portugal continued their attacking momentum, and the pressure told on 71 minutes when Diogo Dalot’s shot struck Kiwior’s hand and the referee pointed to the spot. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and produced a cheeky Panenka execution to score his 134th goal for Portugal at the stadium where he scored his very first for his country, against Greece at Euro 2004.

The game had now completely opened up, a brilliant run and dribble into the box by Zalewski leading to a big chance for Kiwior to halve Portugal’s lead, but Bernardo Silva did well to charge down the shot. Play switched to the other end of the pitch where Pedro Neto’s 20-yarder brought a sharp save out of Bulka.

Bruno exocet

Ronaldo then shot over from close range when he should have scored for the second time in the match but the crowd were soon celebrating. The genesis of the goal was more excellent play by Vitinha who fed Bruno Fernandes, the Manchester United captain thumping a 25-yard rocket into the net off the underside of the bar. 

Portugal were now rampant and it was soon 4-0, Cristiano Ronaldo producing a neat assist for Pedro Neto to finish with a firm shot using his weaker right foot.

Ronaldo’s bicycle brilliance

The fans were loving it, the tedious first half now a distant memory, and another spectacular moment added to the festive atmosphere. Vitinha’s cross picked out Ronaldo, the captain rolling back the years to lithely bicycle kick the ball past Bulka for goal number five.

Marczuk pulled one back for Poland with the fourth goal in a frenetic 9-minute spell. Martínez sent on Lazio full-back Nuno Tavares in stoppage time for his Portugal debut.

“The first half was very bad, we were very frustrated, but the second half was as good as I’ve seen from our team,” said the coach post-match.

Job done, time to experiment?

With Croatia losing in Scotland, Portugal have won the group with a game to spare and Martínez will surely select a heavily rotated team against the Croats in Split on Monday, giving lesser used players an opportunity. 

Portugal: Diogo Costa, Diogo Dalot, Renato Veiga, António Silva, Nuno Mendes (Nuno Tavares, 88’), Bruno Fernandes, João Neves (Vitinha, 46’), Pedro Neto (Francisco Trincão, 84’), Bernardo Silva (Samuel Costa, 76’), Rafael Leão (João Félix, 84’), Cristiano Ronaldo

Poland: Marcin Bulka, Kamil Piatkowski, Jan Bednarek (Sebastian Walukiewicz, 46’), Jakub Kiwior, Bartosz Bereszynski (Jakub Kaminski, 32’), Mateusz Bogusz (Dominik Marczuk, 46’), Taras Romanczuk, Piotr Zielinski, Nicola Zalewski, Krzysztof Piatek, Kacper Urbanski (Adam Buksa, 74’)

Goals:

[1-0] Rafael Leão, 59’

[2-0] Cristiano Ronaldo (pen), 72’

[3-0] Bruno Fernandes, 80’

[4-0] Pedro Neto, 83’

[5-0] Cristiano Ronaldo, 87’

[5-1] Dominik Marczuk, 89’