Portugal wins 2-1, Ronaldo continues to press

Or at least that’s how it appeared after sixty-minutes

Oh, but sixty-minutes does not a football game make.

Following the first sixty minutes of today clash between Portugal and the Czech Republic, I had settled on a title for my detailed game recap "Portugal wins 2-1. Ronaldo continues to press." The boy wonder, who was without a goal through a game and two thirds had yet to score a goal and was beginning to show signs of frustration despite his teams dominate play. The fact that Ronaldo had been ultimately responsible for Portugals first goal of the game, when he managed to draw the attention of three Czech defenders while Brazilian born Portuguese international Deco snuck in behind the defence and hammered home the games first goal had little of no positive effect on Cristiano Ronaldo’s confidence. With the hearts of a nation and the eyes of a continent firmly fixed on the magical feet of Ronaldo, goals will be the only cure for his frustrations. He is a young man on a world stage, who will simply not be stratified with a contributing effort.

In the sixty third minute, my mind running wild with vivid descriptions of monumental frustration, frustration was swept away by a sea of relief, a ground-bound jackknife directly into the net behind the Czech keeper.

The Czech’s had a few opportunities in the final half an hour but where unable to capitalize lacking the necessary drive need to finish in front of goal following an opening two third of chasing a dominate Portuguese team around the pitch.

The tremendous weight was lifted and it showed. Using his uncanny speed Ronaldo burst down the field leaving defenders in his wake to latch onto a quick free kick that managed to catch the Czech defence flat footed and by surprise. Rather then sliding in his second goal of the tournament past a diving Petr Cech, Ronaldo stopped short and unselfishly feed a pass across the beaten keepers line to teammate Ricardo Quaresma who pounced on the Ronaldo offering punching the undefended onion bag.

Game, Set, Match . . . Perhaps a more accurate headline

Three goals all courtesy, one way or another of Cristiano Ronaldo

Play free young-man, play free

Zoltan Black

Final score 3-1 Portugal defeats the Czech Republic