Algeria vs. Portugal: Score and Reaction from 2016 Olympic Men's Soccer
Portugal and Algeria played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their final Group D Olympic clash at the Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Wednesday.
Goncalo Paciencia gave Portugal the lead after they were awarded a controversial penalty, before Mohamed Benkablia bagged a sensational and deserved equaliser before half-time for the Fennec Foxes. After the break, the Selecao improved, although they were unable to find their way past a determined opponent for a second time.
Portugal had already secured their quarter-final berth ahead of this match and will play the runner-up of Group C on Saturday after finishing top of their own group. Algeria, who lost their first two games, came into this one with their elimination confirmed.
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Portugal boss Rui Jorge made plenty of changes from the team that toppled Honduras 2-1 in their previous fixture.
In the early stages it showed, as Algeria were on the front foot. Striker Oussama Darfalou tested Portugal stopper Bruno Varela with a fine header in the 13th minute, as the African nation kept their opponents penned back.
Their fine initial work was undone in a moment of controversy, however. It was deemed by match official Matthew Conger that goalkeeper Oussama Methazem had felled Carlos Mane in the area. The Algerian players were dismayed at the decision, although after their protests had ceased, Paciencia dispatched the kick with ease in the 25th minute.
As we can see here courtesy of journalists Walid Bylka and Rui Miguel Martins, opinion was split on the award of the penalty:
"Portugal take the lead after a terrible penalty call by the ref, wasn't even close watching it live and the replay proved it
— Walid Bylka (@bylka613) August 10, 2016"
However, just five minutes later, an Algerian side feeling hard done by hit back spectacularly through Benkablia.
The forward shimmied his way through a couple of challenges on the edge of the area with neat turns and quick feet. Then he looked up and dispatched a swirling shot through a crowd of defenders from the edge of the area, nestling into the corner beyond Varela.
It was a moment of magic from the 23-year-old, whose team finished the half much the stronger and were looking good for their first point of the competition. Martins was impressed with their effort:
After the interval Portugal did begin to turn the screw, with Tomas Podstawski and Francisco Ramos seeing more of the ball.
Even so, chances were at a premium for Jorge's men. Pite stung the palms of Methazem with a sweetly struck volley, but aside from that, Algeria were putting in a resolute defensive shift. As Bylka noted, Algeria were struggling to find a spark going forward, though:
"#ALG seems a bit out of it in this second half. Team has looked slow and sluggish and especially very disjointed, need to wake up.
— Walid Bylka (@bylka613) August 10, 2016"
Portugal continued to meticulously probe at the Algeria defence and broke through on a couple of occasions late on. However, Methazem, making his first start of the tournament, produced two smart stops to keep things level. They were enough to earn Algeria a point and confirm Portugal as group winners.
Algeria may not be in the quarter-finals, but there are certainly some promising signs for the future when it comes to the national side. They were extremely competitive in all three of the matches they played, although ultimately lacked the defensive cohesion to pick up more points.
Portugal will be a threat in the quarter-finals and Jorge will have been glad to have seen some squad members make their tournament bow. In what’s been a golden year for the nation’s football team, these men will be keen to add their own chapter to the story with Olympic success.
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