Ronaldo swoops to tee up Portugal
YOU can never take your eyes off truly great players — as Cristiano Ronaldo proved again last night.
He toiled gallantly but fruitlessly for 82 minutes before finally intervening to win this play-off first leg at the death.
With eight minutes left at Estadio da Luz, Ronaldo and his Portugal team seemed bound for Stockholm on Tuesday night with the weight of the world on their shoulders, so unconvincing had their attempts to win this game been.
Then Ronaldo headed the winning goal into the corner before crashing another effort against the bar. I n two moments of simple authority, the Portugal captain wrote his name across this tie and ensured his nation can still dream of a place in the World Cup Finals in Brazil next summer.
His goal was an eye-catching affair, the Real Madrid forward diving ahead of Martin Olsson to head in Miguel Veloso’s cross. Only moments earlier he had clashed in ugly fashion with former Manchester City keeper Andreas Isaksson and had been booked. This, though, was the most appropriate way to have the final world.
Portugal will have to play well in the return leg on Tues- day. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for one, will not be the spectator he was for long periods last night. Ronaldo, though, has given the country that adores him something to cling to.
On the field, Ronaldo struggled to impose himself on the game during a first half in which Portugal’s limitations were painfully apparent.
Portugal actually had the first chance and, had Joao Moutinho’s first touch been more delicate as he moved on to Raul Meireles’ defencesplitting pass in just the fifth minute, the home team would perhaps have had the lead their fanatical support so volubly craved. As it was, his clumsiness forced him wide and he shot into the sidenetting.
At the other end, Sweden did look a little more dangerous when they flew forward on the break. Former Bolton striker Johan Elmander almost scored early on, his touch on Mikael Lustig’s low cross diverting the ball inches wide. Then, in the 20th minute, Ibrahimovic’s superb dummy on the edge of the area gave Sebastian Larsson the chance to shoot first time. Rui Patricio sprang to his left to push the ball round the post.
The second half saw Portugal play with slightly more edge. Perhaps they were more acutely aware of their need ahead of the second leg.
Their best player was Moutinho, t he Monaco schemer passing the ball with increasing grace.
Helder Postiga was also dangerous sporadically and he lashed a volley over in the early stages of the second half, and he and Pepe also went close to bundling the ball in during a scramble before the hour.