Euro 2020 Match 21: Bosnian Downer in Portugal by Three Goals

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 21: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Portugal

Bosnian Downer in Portugal by Three Goals

June 21, 2020

Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 Portugal 3

 

The Bosnians remained at Estádio Nacional for their second Euro 2020 match, looking to make it six points from six, only to lose by three goals.

 

They nearly started in the ideal manner as Miralem Pjanić tried chipping Rui Patrício, but missed to the right of goal. Edin Džeko then made the most of the defensive mishap and fired on goal twice, only for the Portuguese goalkeeper to hold firm.

 

The match soon eased into a game mostly played in the middle of the park, whereby the Bosnians played for possession, though not to be without their scoring opportunities. Džeko had a volley attempt miss the goals in similar fashion to Pjanić. Muhamed Bešić also had a volley as he spun around, receiving the ball also from the right wing, only for defenders to get in the way. Pjanić then set up Amer Gojak, whose chip did not fool Rui Patrício.

 

Portugal finally got into the match right before the break, resulting in the opening goal. Cristiano Ronaldo won a free kick out on the left wing. Though the free kick was initially poor, the Bosnians failed to clear. Bruno Fernandes capitalised and shot from outside the box, only to hit the crossbar. The ball fell straight to João Félix, and he headed the ball as it rose from the bounce, directly into the back of the net.

 

Edin Višća nearly drew the Bosnians level, as he waited for the Portuguese right back to make a mistake, before pouncing on the ball and shooting, only to miss to the right of goal. He also had the last kick of the half, shooting as he reached a looping through ball. However, Višća had little control over the ball as it sailed over the crossbar.

 

After the break, Fernandes found André Silva in the box with his left-wing cross, only for the Bosnian defence to header the ball at the same time. From the resulting corner, the striker failed again to get his shot on target. Minutes later, André Silva had a shot blocked, though the tight angle suggested this was also not going to score.

 

Desperate for the equaliser, the Bosnians saw long-range shots come into play. Džeko came the closest as he his shot from around 30 yards out hit the post.

 

Down the Portuguese end, André Silva assisted João Félix with the perfect through ball, only for the winger to hit the crossbar, unable to score his second.

 

Player of the Match Ronaldo set up substitute João Moutinho in similar fashion, only for the goalkeeper to make the crucial save.

 

Instead, substitute Rúben Neves rose above the rest to a corner and scored Portugal’s second goal after helping win the initial corner.

 

Another substitute headed home Portugal’s third. This time, Ronaldo crossed with the outside of his right boot, sending the ball straight to the jump of Dyego Sousa as he nailed it into the back of the net.

 

The two goal scorers then nearly combined for a fourth, only for Dyego Sousa’s attack on the ball to miss to the right. Rúben Neves then fired over the bar in additional time.

 

It mattered little as Portugal ran out 3-0 winners and brought the Bosnians back down to earth after their win over Greece.

 

	Group D	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	England	2	1	1	0	4	+4
2	Portugal	2	1	1	0	4	+3
3	Bosnia-Herzegovina	2	1	0	1	3	-2
4	Greece	2	0	0	2	0	-5

 

England now face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the hope of claiming top spot. The Bosnians, however, will need to at least gain a draw to have any hope of progressing to the Round of 16. Greece has next to no chance but will hope to do damage to Portugal’s overall campaign of winning Euro 2020. Portugal will hope to take top spot if they can increase their goal difference by at least two over England, should they both win.