Portugal 1-0 Azerbaijan LIVE RESULT: Cristiano Ronaldo fails to close on goal record as Portuguese limp past minnows
PORTUGAL began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a win that will not live long in the memory
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to move closer to Ali Daei's all-time international record of 109 goals, as an own goal from Azerbaijan captain Maksim Medvedev proved the only difference between the teams.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
59 The ball makes a rare appearance in the Portuguese box before quickly being returned out by Lopes.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
53 Nurriiev is penalised for a handball.
The half-time substitute blocks Ronaldo's free kick with his arm so the Juventus forward will try again.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
52 Free kick from outside the box taken by Ronaldo but hits the Azerbaijan wall created by their defence, resulting in a second free kick.
The second free kick is blocked yet again by Azerbaijan resulting in a seventh corner for Portugal.
Azerbaijan's defence is relentless!
YELLOW CARD FOR EMRELI!!!
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
50 What a missed chance for Ghorbani! His disappointment cry could be heard from here in England.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
49 Dias is penalised for a foul on Ghorbani and Makhmudov takes the free-kick with Ghorbani missing the target, adding to the many missed goals For the Portuguese team in this game.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
47 Santos keeps a 4-2-4 shape, with Fernandes on for Moutinho. The shooting capacity of the Manchester United man could be a big factor in this half.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
46 There have been three half time substitutions .
Mustafayev for Ibrahimli
Hüseynov for Nriiev
Moutinho for Fernandes
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
Portugal ended the half with 75% possession, 12 shot, five on target and just one foul, against four of Azerbaijan.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
Portugal have dominated possession of the first half with the ball barely entering Portuguese defence.
Despite the presence of the Portuguese, a strong Azerbaijan defence has forced many off-target shots to have missed the back of the net.
Although this goal for Portugal takes the pressure off for the reigning champs, Azerbaijan are putting up a tough battle and we would've expected more from the such a calibre as the Portuguese team.
We're yet to see a goal from Ronaldo with the only goal being scored by Neves. Their dominance is intense, but there is a lack of capacity to create goal situations against Azerbaijan who are defending well and only beaten in the first half by an unfortunate own goal.
HALF TIME!!
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
45 +3 Multiple back passes from the Portuguese midfielders as they continue to push pressure on the Azerbaijan defence, with Neto missing the target.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
45 Ronaldo concedes a free-kick for a foul on Ghorbani.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
45 An extra 3 minutes of injury time added to the first half.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
44 Corner awarded to Portugal taken by Neto with desperate efforts from Azerbaijan to clear.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
43 Portugese in the box are outnumbered by the Azerbaijan players and despite repeated efforts are struggling to make efforts for another goal.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
36 Neves is initially credited with the goal but the ball goes into the net off Azerbaijan's captain when the ball comes into the box and GK punches it off his skipper and into the net.
Unlucky for Medvedev, Magomedaliyev's mistake confused him and he let in a frankly avoidable goal.
PORTUGAL 1 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
36 Neves scores an excellent goal for Portugal resulting in them taking the lead we were all expecting.
It looks like this game ends Azerbaijan's goalless streak.
GOOOAAALLLLL!!!
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
35 A Moutinho takes the free-kick with a receive from Neves at an attempt for goal, once again saved by the mighty Magomedaliyev.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
34 The medic has been called and we can see the sub warming up.
Will Magomedaliyev make it to the end of this half?
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
33 Cancelo makes another attempt at goal and Magomedaliyev saves it once again.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
31 Two failed challenges by Neto.
Portugal dominate but no goal. Azerbaijan are defending deep, but Saleçao are not finding a way to break through the deadlock.
The left wing is not working and Portugal need to play faster in the final third.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
30 Cancelo headers the ball out of plat resulting in a throw in by Azerbaijan.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
28 Another missed goal from Portugal by Cancelo going wide of the posts.
Another opportunity missed.