Lionel Messi. Crisitano Ronaldo. This was the matchup everyone was waiting all week for during this international break. Argentina and Portugal are much more than just those two players, of course, and this had all the fixings of a fascinating match, especially with all the trappings of Old Trafford around them, and all the players with ties to that historic stadium on the pitch. Ultimately, neither superstar contributed to a goal in Portugal’s 1-0 win.
Things got off to a roaring start, with both sides racing up and down the pitch to try and be the first to score. Argentina had early chances for Angel de Maria and Messi, but neither could get their shots on target. Javier Pastore had a header that was on-frame, but he didn’t get enough on his striker and Beto was able to save it despite losing his feet and falling rather than properly diving at it.
Ronaldo had a chance too, after Lucas Biglia and Nico Otamendi whiffed on a cross and let it get through to the Real Madrid star, but put his shot well over the bar instead of laying it off to an unmarked supporting run from Danny. The most notable moment for Ronaldo otherwise came late in the half when he tried to volley a ball at the top of the box, except that his foot found Biglia’s stomach instead.
Both Messi and Ronaldo came off at the half in order to rest and keep them healthy for their club sides, though interestingly that almost seemed to open the match back up. Things had bogged down somewhat as the first half progressed, as both sides seemed to largely be trying to force the ball to their respective superstar. Without them, things freed up, and both sides tried to more naturally build up play.
Argentina had a chance early in the half when Gonzalo Higuain was sprung on the left side of the box, but his first touch went too close to the end line and his attempt to pull the ball back went over Nico Gaitan’s foot. Of course, even if Gaitan had connected, it wouldn’t have counted, as the linesman had (incorrectly) flagged for offside.
Argentina slowly started dominating more and more of the possession, leaving Portugal desperately trying to hold them at bay. The momentum really started to shift when the Albiceleste brought on Carlos Tevez and Erik Lamela, with the disruptive presence of Tevez in particular proving useful for the Argentines. Chances started coming quickly for Argentina, while Portugal struggled to get any kind of effective counter-attacks together.
Despite all their domination, though, Argentina struggled to get any of their shots on target. Headers went wide, shots went high, and the South American side generally struggled to make the best of their chances. Making things harder for them is that when Portugal did get forward, goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman, making just his second start for Argentina, did his best to mess things up and gift the ball to Portugal in dangerous areas. Portugal were never really able to take advantage, though, and things continued much as they were.
Things started to bog down again in the last 15 minutes. Portugal took a more defensive stance as the second half wore on, and Argentina started struggling to give space to work with as a result. Ricardo Quaresma had a late chance for Portugal after Javier Mascherano had a sloppy turnover, but he ran straight in to Martin Demichelis to kill the chance. The Manchester City defender had another late stop when he nicked the ball away from Eder’s run to the near post, but there wasn’t anything he could do a few minutes later.
Raphael Guerriero, who came on early in the half as an injury replacement for Tiago Gomez, took a shot that was deflected wide. He didn’t give up on the chance, though, sprinting in to the box and getting on the end of a cross back in, putting his header past a flailing Guzman and giving Portugal a last-second win. The whistle blew shortly thereafter, giving Portugal a win completely against the run of the match.
Argentina: Nahuel Guzman; Facundo Roncaglia, Martin Demichelis, Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Ansaldi (Jonathan Silva 73′); Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia; Lionel Messi (Nicolas Gaitan 46′), Javier Pastore (Roberto Pereyra 73′), Angel di Maria (Erik Lamela 60′); Gonzalo Higuain (Carlos Tevez 60′)
Goals: none
Portugal: Beto; Jose Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Pepe (Jose Fonte 46′), Tiago Gomez (Raphael Guerreiro 50′); Tiago (William Carvalho 77′), Joao Moutinho, Andre Gomes (Adrien Silva 65′), Nani; Danny (Eder 46′), Cristiano Ronaldo (Ricardo Quaresma 46′)
