The FIFA World Cup rolled full steam ahead with important games for all teams involved. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo were eager to make their mark vs. Uzbekistan after missing out on the first game against DR Congo. This was the game with the most goals scored. The chemistry-fueled comeback of the Portugal team was as glitzy as it could get.
England vs. Ghana ended at a goalless draw with Harry Kane and co missing good chances to take the game away. Croatia bore the fruit of their efforts to grind
out a 1-0 victory over Panama. DR Congo once again were stubborn to the very end and did not allow Colombia much room to operate. Daniel Muñoz got Colombia’s lone goal to edge past the Congolese challenge.
The magic of the World Cup is the absolute no prisoners taken approach in attack and defense. This has always led to some fantastic sequences of play and a fair chunk of ridiculous goals scored. The underdog teams have proven themselves in this World Cup, often putting punching above their weight and also playing proper football.
Without further ado here the goals from MD 13’s fixtures.
Cristiano Ronaldo finally got his first goal…oh wait not yet
The 1-1 draw against DR Congo saw Portugal and Ronaldo receive a lot of negativity. The 41-year-old was determined to exorcise those demons and prove his place for his country and this tournament. This chance missed by millimeters. Nuno Mendes continued to show why he is one of the most highest rated left-backs in the world. The venomous cross across the face of goal was begging to be finished.
Ronaldo finally blasted in his first goal and it was a stunner
João Cancelo’s ball into a crowded box was fished out by Cristiano. He freed himself from his marker and took the shot as perfectly as possible. The dropped shoulder and leaning angle preserved the pace and the tricky height of the cross. There was no chance to react to this blinder from CR7.
Ronaldo with a free-kick!…A fantastic bluff that let Nuno Mendes score
This free kick took its own sweet time. The ref had to intervene several times to organize the Uzbeks and the Portuguese players. Meanwhile Ronaldo was preparing himself in his signature style, a few paces away from the ball taking deep breaths. When the whistle blew and Ronaldo launched, the entire wall reacted to him as Nuno Mendes slyly shot in the second goal. It was a beautiful bluff that worked due to Ronaldo’s reputation of being the one to take free-kicks and penalties.
Uzbekistan’s rocket strike that went in vain
What a shot from Aziz Ganiev. One can only stand and applaud a screamer like this. Unfortunately VAR intervened and called Fayzullayev’s challenge on Cancelo illegal. What a dissappointment.
Vintage Cristiano Ronaldo is back
Attacking forward type of run, beat the defenders as he reached the ball. Topped it all off with a laser guided shot into the corner from an impossible angle. This is looked reminiscent of the Ronaldo from his Real Madrid era!
Nematov read the second bluff from Ronaldo to stop the hattrick
Another free-kick and another bluff from Portugal. This however, Abduvohid Nematov never took his eye off Ronaldo even after the fake jog towards the ball. A close quarters save to deny a hattrick.
Own goal rubbed salt on Uzbekistan’s wound
This was just unfortunate. A fatal deflection from the Uzbek goalkeeper gave the fourth goal away. The crowded box was doing its job of reducing time and awareness for the opposition, but this time it backfired and led to an own goal.
Rafael Leão made it five for Portugal!
Once again Ronaldo’s movement occupied the defender’s attention that created an empty pocket of space behind the veteran attacker. The substitute, Rafael Leão, pounced on the opportunity and smashed in the cross.
No way through for England
It was a frustrating day for the Three Lions.
Ghana almost punished England
Prince Adu ran away with the game if not for the late challenge. Thomas Tuchel almost got Thomas Tuchel’d with that counter attack.
England’s costly mistake
Two late chances and two misses. The team needed Harry Kane to finish that. It was a difficult height for a volley, but that was the moment for England. The group stage of the expanded format is not easy at all. Two dropped points for England.
A perfect Croatia combination
The perfect hoodwinked exchange between Mario Pašalić and Josip Stanišić. A bewitching cross from Stanišić that beat two defenders and the goalkeeper to reach Budimir before being directed into the back of the goal. Magical stuff from Croatia!
Diaz denied!
The DR Congo team deserved a lot of appreciation for their consistent and constant structure and defensive organization. Colombia were always outnumbered due to the constant micro movements and readjustments from the Congolese team.
Los Cafeteros finally get a deserved goal!
Juan Quintero at the playmaker role for Colombia was the key to unlocking the watertight Congo side to open space. Other than long balls, a tricky playmaker is often the solution against teams like the DR Congo. With a feint and flick, his pass found Daniel Muñoz in the box. Having missed out twice already, Muñoz made it up with a fine finish that was sufficient to win the game for his country.
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