Cristiano Ronaldo contributed a goal as Portugal defeated Liechtenstein 2-0 in the Euro 2024 qualifiers on the evening of November 16.
Scorers: Ronaldo 46′, Cancelo 57′.
Already having secured a spot in the finals, Portugal fielded many young players from the start. In this match, goalkeeper Jose Sa and defender Toti Gomes debuted for the national team. Defensive midfielder Ruben Neves was dropped into a central defensive position. However, the majority of the attacking lineup consisted of established stars. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Joao Cancelo formed the midfield trio, while Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Diogo Jota, and Goncalo Ramos played up front.
Alongside changes in tactics and player selection, a lack of motivation resulted in Portugal starting slowly. The team lacked cohesion and determination to break down Liechtenstein’s defense. Most of Portugal’s attacking attempts originated from individual efforts but lacked the intensity to convert into goals.
Towards the end of the first half, Portugal created a significant chance. Ronaldo threatened Liechtenstein’s goal with a scissor kick, hitting the goalkeeper Bruchel’s leg.
After the break, the visitors returned with a completely different spirit. In the 46th minute, Ronaldo’s shot hit the post. A minute later, he received the ball from Jota, entered the penalty area, and scored with his left foot, putting the ball past Bruchel. Ronaldo’s 128th goal for Portugal was setting a new international record.
Portugal didn’t have to wait long for the second goal. In the 57th minute, after Bruchel made a mistake rushing out, Cancelo dribbled past him and shot into the goal, sealing a 2-0 victory.
After securing three points, Portugal substituted Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, and Bruno Fernandes. Stefanovic got past Ruben Neves in the second half but couldn’t beat goalkeeper Jose Sa, missing an opportunity to narrow the gap for Liechtenstein. Towards the end of the match, Goncalo Ramos put the ball into the home team’s net, but it was disallowed for an offside.
This is Portugal’s ninth victory in nine Euro 2024 qualifiers. If they win the remaining match against Iceland on November 19, they will achieve a perfect qualification round for the first time in a major tournament. Portugal currently has 34 goals. If they score two more against Iceland, they will break the record set in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.
In Group J, Portugal still leads with 27 points. Slovakia is in second place with 19 points, having also secured a spot in the finals. Meanwhile, Luxembourg and Bosnia have both guaranteed places in the play-off stage for a chance to qualify. Iceland must await the final round results. UEFA determines play-off spots based on Nations League performance and standings in the qualification groups. Liechtenstein sits at the bottom of Group J with zero points, one goal scored, and 27 goals conceded.
