As expected, Portugal is heading to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup after a solid showing in the group stage. They finished off the round with a 4-0 win over New Zealand, sealing a place in the semifinals.
Portugal vs. New Zealand: Final score 4-0, European champions make Confederations Cup semifinals
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva saw Portugal through to the next round.
Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
The Kiwis started strong, with Chris Wood forcing a save in the 6th minute, but the favorites took over from there. Cristiano Ronaldo was unlucky not to score on a header that hit the crossbar in the 26th minute, though he didn’t have to wait very long to find the back of the net.
In the 32nd minute, Tommy Smith shoved Danilo in the back in the penalty area, and the referee pointed to the spot. Ronaldo stepped up and finished with conviction, putting his side ahead.
Bernardo Silva doubled Portugal’s lead just five minutes later at the end of a gorgeous team move. Ricardo Quaresma started the attack with a stepover move and chipped a throughball to Eliseu, who ran to the byline and cut the ball back towards the top of the six-yard box. Silva was in perfect position, and had a tap-in for his team’s second goal.
But Bernardo Silva picked up a knock on that play, which eventually saw him exit the game. He was able to finish the first half, but Pizzi was brought on in his place at halftime as a precaution.
With a comfortable two-goal lead, Portugal took fewer risks in the second half, opting for control of the ball over risky attacking. New Zealand started to get desperate with 15 minutes remaining in the match, and their opponents were able to take advantage of the resulting space. Andre Silva added a third goal for Portugal in the 80th minute, hitting the top corner from 12 yards after a dazzling individual run.
Nani replaced Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal having full control, and he put an exclamation point on the match with a stoppage time goal, finishing from close range after an assist by Andre Silva.
That goal sealed first place in the group for Portugal, who awaits the second-placed team from Group B — likely Chile or Germany.
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