Day 4, now with more Liveblog
My game against Ukraine is the nightcap, so we got the new from San Siro Milan, at least, earlier in the day. It was a 2-1 smash and grab for Holland, who went up two within 21 minutes and only allowed an own goal against the Spaniards. While the Top 3 generally qualify from their group, Spain are in a sticky situation with Turkey and Norway to play next.
Ukraine coming out in a 4-4-2, I'm countering with the same system I use for both Benfica and Portugal, a 2-3-2-1-2 system (that is more of a 4-1-2-3-0 in defense) that focuses on high pressing and usually ends up creating a diamond around the field. With Ukraine fielding two guys down the wing, we'll be out numbered, but I love having 2 strikers going up against two center backs, especially because with David Soares and Edgar Correia, my two Benfica youth products, are perfect together in a Target Man-Center Forward combo. I have wingers like Ronaldo, Bruma, and Everton regen Fernando Viana to switch up to one of my backup formations to stretch the field more.
Ukraine have a star-studded lineup, with Stuttgart (who are oil rich) 25yo midfielder Vlaidslav Alexandrov the key cog and Chelsea's Ivan Ushakov to his right. the danger will come from this area, so My CDM and LWB Sandro Dias and Antonio Gumiel will have to watch the area a bit more than usual.
1' Portugal start off, Sandro Dias plays it towards Soares who can't catch up. Hot out of the gate is a good sign, though.
4' Dortmund's 10m Left winger Ivan Volkov plays in a very high lobbed cross but it's caught well by Keeper Cyril Bernard. On the ensuing play, Volkov is found while running in behind by the captain, City man Denys Garmash, who plays him in past Ie and Janco, and Volkov slots it behind Bernard. GOAL Ukraine 1-0
5' Benfica start quick, with RWB Jose Pedro bombing down the line quick, and playing a ball in to David Soares, who shoots straight into the defender's legs, out for a corner.
7' Maxym Koval makes a dumb error on a goal kick, giving it straight to Soares, who just whiffs from 30 yards away instead of dribbling to get closer. Thinking about subbing him.
9' A quick Ukrainian counter is stuffed out by Jose Pedro, who plays it forward to AMC Filipe Vargas, who runs half the field to find LWB Antonio Gumiel coming in, though his shot is just over the bar.
17' Antonio Gumiel has acres of space on the wing, and plays a light ball on the ground to find CM Paulo Borges in the box. His shot goes near post and goes IN! Past Koval! GOAL Portugal 1-1 News from the other game being played simultaneously shows Turkey up 1 after the 14th minute.
21' Edgar Correia receives the ball from Deep from Sandro Dias, and tries to play Soares in, but the speedy forward is pushed off the ball by Ukraine CB Doroshenko.
31' Excellent defensive save after a lapse in judgement from Ukraine. Correia was played in by Paulo Borges who is having a monster game getting forward from CM, but Koval pops it up high in the air for CB Daudov to clear it with a header off the line!
41' Jose Pedro bombs down the line again, and the ball is poorly cleared by Krystov, who clears it back out to Jose Pedro who now finds David Soares without a marker, and it's an easy finish for a GOAL PORTUGAL 2-1
42' Ukraine look unprepared to deal with 3 forwards rushing at their 2 CBs, Soares again finds space behind, though this time the shot goes over.
45' Another one just before the break! Borges finds Correia with the Hockey assist from deep, and Correia plays a beautiful one-two with the number 10, Vargas, as Ukraine try to triple-man mark Vargas and end up leaving a weird 4 on 3 for Portugal. Correia's finish is cool as you like. Goal PORTUGAL 3-1. Enes Unal scored the 2nd for Turkey and they are up 2-0 at half as well.
HALFTIME
68' After a while passing it around outside the box, Antonio Gumiel finds a shot that goes straight to Koval. Elsehwere, Unal has scored against for Turkey, who lead 3-0.
Three subs for Portugal, Ronaldo on for Soares, Benfica's Carlos Abreu and Marcelinho on for Hector Espinoza (CM) and Sandro Dias respectively.
72' Borges again finds Gumiel wide, and Gumiel in turn finds Correia, though the header is on the wrong side of the bar.
74' RONALDOOOOO RWB Jose Pedro receives the 1-2 from CR7, and skips past the Ukrainian LB to find CR7 all alone in the box for a simple tap in for the 39 year old. GOAL PORTUGAL 4-1
91' FINAL! Portugal, more like Benfica plus Ronaldo, defeat the Ukrainians 4-1 in their opening match after beautiful combination play from the Forward trio, the wing backs, and deep balls from Paulo Borges. Ukraine will feel disappointed after starting so quickly. Turkey also win 4-0 over Norway, with Adnan Januzaj(who choose Turkey in this timeline) providing the finisher in a big warning to Spain.
A wonderful day for soccer, as Holland upsets Spain 2-1, while Portugal fought back to demolish Ukraine 4-1, and Turkey beat Norway 4-0, with 2 goals and 2 assists from Enes Unal, the 27yo Atletico man who had a 9.6 match rating. With one round of every group complete teams now know where they stand and what they have to do to advance.
Tomorrow:
Belgium vs. France(Watched)
Germany vs. Bulgaria
Russia vs. Scotland
Russia will need to grab points against Scotland while Germany look to secure the group with a win tomorrow. Belgium vs. France is one of the most anticipated group fixtures of the tournament and surely won't dissapoint.
