Hungary 0-3 Portugal
Portugal beat Hungary 3-0 at Puskás Aréna to get their 2020 UEFA European Championship campaign off to a winning start.
The Seleção had to wait until the 83rd minute to take the lead through Raphaël Guerreiro’s deflected strike, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring two late goals to seal the deal.
Portugal assert their authority
Portugal created their first opportunity in the 5th minute. Bernardo Silva sent Diogo Jota through, he created some space and shot at Péter Gulácsi with Ronaldo unmarked and screaming for the ball.
Jota couldn’t direct a Bruno Fernandes free kick towards goal as the Seleção failed to sustain any serious pressure despite monopolising possession.
Pepe’s long ball found Ronaldo in an offside position and Bernardo Silva was tackled by Willi Orban in a promising position. The Magyars couldn’t get near Portugal’s goal as Fernando Santos’ side continued to probe for openings.
Ronaldo rose high and headed Bernardo’s cross wide before the Magyars fashioned their first chance. Ádám Szalai won a free kick out wide and then headed it straight at Rui Patrício.
Hungary started to see more ball towards the end of the first half but it was Portugal who continued to create chances.
Nélson Semedo surged to the byline and found Jota who forced a save from Gulácsi. Bruno Fernandes then sent a cross into the danger zone where Ronaldo fired over from close range after the ball took a slight deflection off Jota.
Portugal continue to probe
The second half started with more Portuguese pressure, Fernandes’ corner finding Pepe who tested Gulácsi.
Hungary had a brief spell of pressure, Szalai with a shot from distance straight at Patrício and Roland Sallai doing the same not long after.
Marco Rossi made the first move in the 66th minute as Loic Nego replaced András Schäfer.
Bruno Fernandes’ low drive saw Gulácsi turn the ball wide as Santos brought on Rafa Silva for Bernardo Silva.
Fernandes found Ronaldo who saw a handball claim denied, Hungary making two more changes as Roland Sallai and László Kleinheisler made way for Szabolcs Schon and Dávid Miklós Sigér.
Hungarian supporters thought their side has made a breakthrough in the 80th minute but it wasn’t to be. Schon broke free, cut inside Pepe and finished past Patrício but was ruled offside.
Renato Sanches and André Silva were introduced for William Carvalho and Diogo Jota and three minutes later Portugal went in front.
Breakthrough
Rafa’s cross rebounded into the path of Raphael Guereiro, his shot taking a big deflection off Orban and past a helpless Gulácsi.
Two minutes later Portugal won a penalty as Renato Sanches went on a long run, released Rafa who got into a tussle with Orban who was judged to have brought him down. Ronaldo stepped up and sent Gulácsi the wrong way.
João Moutinho came on for Bruno Fernandes and it was soon 3-0. It was a beautiful team goal, Rafa playing a double 1-2 with Ronaldo who rounded Gulácsi and finished into an empty net.
Positive dress rehearsal
Fernando Santos selected his tried and tested midfield duo as Danilo Pereira partnered William Carvalho in the engine room. It didn't seem like they were both required in the second half with Portugal requiring more thrust and creativity, but Santos persisted until the 81st minute when Renato Sanches replaced William.
Santos undoubtedly had an eye on the two upcoming matches against Germany and France when selecting his starting side. With that in mind, despite all three goals coming in the final 10 minutes, it was a positive dress rehearsal as Portugal aim to defend their European Championship title.
Ronaldo centre stage once again
Ronaldo became the first men's player in history to play in five European Championships. He also went two goals clear of Michel Platini as the leading goalscorer at the tournament, his double taking him to 11 goals.
The 36-year-old went close twice in the first half, and despite being relatively quiet in the second period, he stepped up when it counted to make it 106 goals in 176 matches for his country. Ronaldo continues to break records and is closing in on the most international goals, requiring just three more to equal Ali Daei who scored 109 goals for Iran.
Line Ups
Portugal XI (4-2-3-1): Rui Patrício - Nelson Semedo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Raphaël Guerreiro - Danilo Pereira, William Carvalho (Renato Sanches 81’) - Bernardo Silva (Rafa Silva 71’), Bruno Fernandes (João Moutinho 89’), Diogo Jota (André Silva 81’) - Cristiano Ronaldo
Unused substitutes: Rui Silva, Anthony Lopes, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Mendes, José Fonte, João Palhinha, Sérgio Oliveira, Rúben Neves, , Pote, Gonçalo Guedes, João Félix
Hungary XI (5-3-2): Gulácsi - Botka, Orban, Attila Szalai - Lovrencsics, Kleinheisler (Schon 78’), Nagy (Roland Varga 89’), Schäfer (Négo 66’), Fiola (Kevin Varga 89’) - Ádám Szalai, Sallai (Sigér 78’)
Unused substitutes: Bogdán, Dibusz, Bolla, Lang, Kecskés, Cseri, Gazdag, Hahn, Nikolić, Holender
Goals
[0-1] Raphael Guerreiro 84'
[0-2] Ronaldo 87' (pen)
[0-3] Ronaldo 91'
Related: Hungary 0-3 Portugal match reaction
Related: Hungary 0-3 Portugal player ratings
