World Cup play-offs: Portugal beat Turkey 3-1 in comfortable home win

Portugal hosted Turkey at the Estádio do Dragão on Thursday, and the hosts managed to secure a comfortable 3-1 win despite a late scare in the World Cup play-off.

Portugal began the game with the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo, who was paired alongside Liverpool forward Diogo Jota upfront, and the attacking duo was supported by the brilliant Bernardo Silva and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.

The home side’s attacking prowess showed signs of promise from the very start as Ronaldo found a good opportunity to put Portugal ahead, but somehow could not score.

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Another brilliant chance fell Portugal’s way minutes later, but Jota somehow managed to miss from a couple of yards out.

However, Portugal did not have to wait long to take the lead as Otavio pounced on a Silva shot that came off the post to put the home side ahead in the 16th minute.

Some sloppy play by Portugal granted the away side a route back into the game near the half-hour mark, but Turkey could not capitalise, thereby flipping momentum in Portugal’s favour.

Barely 15 minutes after Turkey squandered an opportunity, Portugal hit back through a goal by Jota, who headed home from an Otavio cross to make it 2-0 in favour of the hosts at half-time.

As the second-half got underway, both sides had early chances to score but could not convert.

Jota was presented with a golden opportunity to extend Portugal’s lead and put the result beyond doubt, but failed to score, paving the way for a Turkey fight back.

Minute’s after Jota’s chance, Burak Yilmaz latched on to a ball by Cengiz Ünder to pull one back for the visitors.

The goal changed the game for the visitors, who started asserting themselves more, and their efforts were rewarded with a penalty in the 83rd minute.

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However, Yilmaz, who had been Turkey’s main attacking threat, blasted his spot kick over the bar, keeping the game 2-1 in Portugal’s favour.

With the clock ticking on, the hosts managed the rest of the game in a professional manner and also managed to get the last laugh via a stoppage time goal by Matheus Nunes.

The match ended 3-1 in favour of the hosts, setting up a date with North Macedonia, who beat European champions Italy, for a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.