Portugal vs. Gibraltar: Score and Reaction from 2016 International Friendly
Portugal beat Gibraltar, 5-0, in an international friendly at the Estadio do Bessa XXI in Porto, Portugal, on Thursday night as the Euro 2016 winners found the back of the net with consummate ease.
Two goals from Nani opened the floodgates, as Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva scored their first goals for their country, allowing Pepe to add a fifth with a fine header late in the match.
Manager Fernando Santos named eight of the squad that played in the Euro final at the Stade de France in his starting line-up. Nani captained the team in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was out injured, while Eder and Ricardo Quaresma were handed starting berths in attack. Goalkeeper Eduardo was given the nod ahead of Rui Patricio, while Cancelo made his debut at right-back.
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Gibraltar defender Joseph Chipolina continued his run of having played every one of his country's 19 matches.
Eder threatened the visitors from the opening moments of the clash and tested goalkeeper Jordan Perez after a clever pass from William Carvalho.
However, manager Jeff Wood's Team 54 outfit showed plenty of endeavour despite conceding territory to the reigning European champions.
Portugal took the lead midway through the first half as Nani latched on to a wild ricochet in the box to punish Gibraltar.
The captain finished with aplomb as the opposition defence failed to deal with the home side's attack.
Quaresma was given too much space on the wings as the attacking football flowed, and Perez was busy as Eder twice spurned excellent chances.
Gibraltar struggled through midfield as they attempted to counterattack, as Portugal easily smothered their opponents' best play.
The Gibraltarians survived without conceding again before the half-time break, as they valiantly held on against constant pressure.
Football writer Rui Miguel Martins gave his assessment as the referee blew his whistle:
Portugal doubled their lead as Nani struck to grab his brace. The winger met a Silva cross in the air, and the skipper flicked the ball towards goal with a well-directed header after 55 minutes.
Gibraltar were trapped in their own half, but the home team were initially unable to fully punish them for sitting deep.
Michael Yome should have scored for the visitors after a rare break forward, but the chance triggered Portugal into a deadly attack, and Cancelo powered home to score on his debut.
The hosts obtained a fourth minutes later as Silva watched his tame effort sneak under Perez's body, and a fifth goal immediately followed as Pepe rose at the back post to head home as Gibraltar folded and collapsed.
Gibraltar gave a good account of themselves on what promised to be a night of goals, and Portugal had to do very little once the main chances of the night arrived.
Post-Match Reaction
To follow...
