Costa on target as Portugal sink Scots
Netherlands captain Van Dijk ruled out of Belgium friendly
GLASGOW, Oct 15, (AFP): Helder Costa marked his Portugal debut with a goal as the European champions eased to a 3-1 friendly win over Scotland on Sunday.
Wolves forward Costa opened the scoring late in the first half at Hampden Park.
And despite the absence of Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Santos’ side wrapped up a comfortable victory when Eder and Bruma netted in the second half.
Ronaldo has been left out of the Portugal squad while he fights to clear his name following allegations of rape, which he strongly Scotland were almost gifted a bizarre early lead when Sergio Oliveira tried to head clear from James Forrest’s cross, but instead diverted the ball towards his own goal, forcing keeper Beto to tip it over the bar.
Oliveira helped Portugal threaten at the right end when his through-ball caused panic in the Scotland defense.
Meanwhile, The Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has withdrawn from their squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Belgium, less than 24 hours after scoring in the 3-0 win over Germany in the Nations League.
Van Dijk, 27, is still feeling the effects of a rib injury suffered playing for Liverpool against Southampton last month and the Dutch football association said in a statement on Sunday that it had been decided he would only play against Germany.
No replacement will be called up for Tuesday’s friendly in Brussels.
Van Dijk got the opening goal for the Dutch on Saturday, before Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum scored late on as they recorded a morale-boosting triumph over their neighbours.
Gareth Bale will miss Wales’ Nations League clash against the Republic of Ireland after the Real Madrid star returned to Spain to continue his recovery from a groin injury.
Bale was sidelined for Wales’ 4-1 friendly defeat against Spain in Cardiff on Thursday after aggravating the groin injury while playing for Real against Alaves a week ago.
The 29-year-old had hoped to recover for his country’s trip to Dublin on Tuesday, but Wales manager Ryan Giggs had already admitted he didn’t expect the forward to be back in time. to evolve and play well,” Morgan said.
The top-ranked United States are the defending champions of the sport’s premier event, having won the final in the 2015 World Cup against Japan. It was the team’s third World Cup title.
Jamaica, ranked No. 64th in the world, are still vying to become the first Caribbean nation to go to a World Cup. The Reggae Girlz upset Costa Rica 1-0 in the group stage before routing Cuba 9-0 to finish second to Canada in Group B.
The island nation re-started their women’s national team program in 2014 after a six-year hiatus, boosted by the support of Bob Marley’s oldest daughter, Cedella Marley.
Coach Hue Menzies said the match against the United States was a good test.
“We came ready to play five games, and we’re playing five games. So it’s a big plus for our program. Obviously we’re trying to create some history. We’re still on track,” Menzies said.
The United States have dominated the competition in the tournament. The team averaged six goals a game in their group stage, winning all three matches. They took 114 shots, far more than the second-best team in the field, Canada (77). In their final group stage match, the US women outshot injury-depleted Trinidad and Tobago 59-0.
The United States outshot Jamaica 26-1.
“We feel good right now. Like I said, the competition has not been very good, so we have to take it with a grain of salt,” Rapinoe said about where the team is at right now. “I think we’re moving the ball quicker, not hanging on to it too long, sharing it, a bunch of different people are scoring. We got a lot of different kind of goals today, too. It’s clicking right now. It’s pretty good.”
Morgan’s goals tied her with Canada’s Adriana Leon for the tournament lead with six.
Morgan has 16 goals for the United States this year, and she has 23 goals in her last 23 matches. She has 96 career goals.
Heath, who spent much of 2017 and the beginning of this year sidelined by injury, has seven goals in seven starts this year. Her second goal of the night came on a spectacular serve from Portland Thorns teammate Lindsay Horan. On the run, Heath smashed it past Jamaica goalkeeper Sydney Schneider.
“They’re at another level,” Menzies said about the US team. “Another level from us. It’s something we can learn from.
United States defender Becky Sauerbrunn defends against Jamaica forward Jody Brown during the second half
of a CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament soccer match in Frisco, Texas on Oct 14. (AP)