Portugal vs. Mexico: Final score 2-1, El Tri falls apart in Confederations Cup third place game

Cristiano Ronaldo took the night off for Portugal in the Confederations Cup third place match, but they ended up not needing him. Mexico took the first lead on Sunday, but a stoppage-time equalizer and a penalty in extra time saw Portugal capture third place with a 2-1 victory.

Portugal had a big opportunity to go ahead 14 minutes in, via the Video Assistant Referee. The head official asked for assistance by VAR after an apparent foul by Rafa Marquez in the box, and they gave a penalty. Andre Silva stepped up in Ronaldo’s absence, but couldn’t beat Guillermo Ochoa.

El Tri’s best chance to take the lead came in the 30th minute, when Javier Hernandez found himself with the ball at his feet 12 yards out from goal. He thought he’d scored with a powerful strike, but Rui Patricio came up with a sensational save.

But less than 10 minutes after halftime, Chicharito was able to contribute to a Mexico goal. His cross from the left wing was missed by Carlos Vela, but took a small deflection. That was enough to throw off Luis Neto, who put the ball into his own goal.

Ochoa came up big again in the 61st minute, saving a point-blank header by Gelson Martins to keep his team in front.

It wasn’t enough to hold off Portugal, though. In heartbreaking fashion, Portugal found a stoppage-time equalizer through Pepe, who volleyed in a cross by Ricardo Quaresma to force extra time.

Just before the end of the first extra time period, Portugal took the lead. In seriously unlucky fashion, a cross bounced, deflected, and hit the raised hand of Miguel Layun. Portugal was given another penalty and converted the second time around, with Adrien Silva converting.

Mexico was given a lifeline just seconds into the second extra time period when Nelson Semedo was sent off for picking up a second yellow card. But Raul Jimenez committed the same offense seven minutes later, throwing away his team’s advantage. The match finished 10 vs. 10, without El Tri scoring an equalizer. The closest they came was in the 118th minute, when Patricio parried away a long-range strike from Hector Herrera. It was a fantastic shot, but Patricio saw it all the way.

In his fury over the way events were unfolding, Juan Carlos Osorio stepped onto the pitch to say some unpleasant words in the final minute. He was sent off, and that might be the lasting image of the increasingly unpopular Osorio as Mexico manager.