Spain prove too strong for Portugal

Portugal 1-3 Spain

Portugal's U21 Euro 2017 campaign is hanging by a thread after the Seleção were beaten 3-1 by Spain in Gdynia, Poland tonight.

Rui Jorge's men started strongly but Spain scored from their first effort at goal from Saul Ñíguez midway through the first half, and it was La Roja's incisiveness in attack in a high-quality match that made the difference.

Sandro Ramírez doubled Spain's lead on the hour mark, but substitute Bruma gave Portugal hope with a sensational volley on 77 minutes. A tiring Portugal failed to fashion chances for an equaliser though, and a mistake in the dying moments by Rúben Semedo was punished by Iñaki Williams to confirm the victory for Spain.

A highly anticipated clash between two of the tournament favourites did not disappoint, with both sides playing fast-paced, aggressive football from the off. Rui Jorge gave Renato Sanches a start in place of Diogo Jota in the only change in relation to the opening day win over Serbia as he switched to 442, and it looked like the plan was working as Portugal dominated the opening 15 minutes.

Cancelo threat

With the ball constantly in the half of the pitch Portugal were attacking, full-back João Cancelo was again proving a potent attacking threat on the right. Captain Bruno Fernandes volleyed narrowly over the bar, then Daniel Podence went even closer when he collected Edgar Ié's neat pass and produced a snapshot from the edge of the box that smashed the inside of the post with Spain goalkeeper Kepa beaten all ends up.

Portugal continued to pour forward, but in what was to be a feature of the match, an endless stream of crosses into the Spain box rarely threatened as the Seleção clearly lacked a target man to get on the end of them.

Spain at last began to alleviate the pressure with some neat passing movements, and from their very first shot at goal Albert Celades's side took the lead. Saul went on a jinking run through the middle, firing a shot that somewhat fortuitously deflected over Varela and into the net. The Atlético Madrid midfielder showed good close control, but Portugal will be disappointed at the passive defending that allowed him to get his shot in.

Portugal responded to the setback well, with Guedes and Fernandes trying their luck from range, while Guedes also had a reasonable penalty shout turned down. But Spain were always a threat when they ventured forward, Bellerín forcing Varela into a smart save after a superb counter-attack and Sandro firing narrowly wide.

Podence shines

The Seleção came out of the traps quickly in the second half and were twice close to an equaliser thanks to the tenacity and speed of Podence. First of all he pounced on a loose ball to tee up Fernandes, whose powerful 20-yard shot was saved with difficulty by Kepa. Then Podence did superbly well to rob a Spanish defender, advance into the box, and skim an angled shot just wide of goal.

There was no let-up to the breathless action as a wonderful passing move by the Spanish sliced open Portugal's defence and seemed certain to lead to a goal, only for the outstanding Edgar Ié to produce a miraculous goal-line clearance.

Play switched to the other end of the pitch again and Sanches stung Kepa's hands with a half-volley before Spain deflated Portugal with a simple breakaway goal, Sandro Ramírez directing a low cross past Varela and inside the near post.

Jorge reacted by taking off João Carvalho and throwing on Gonçalo Paciência but at this stage there looked no way back for the Seleção. Bruma wasn't about to throw in the towel though, meeting a headed clearance with a stupendous 25-yard volley into the corner of the net to rekindle hope for Portugal.

However, Portugal had run out of ideas, and energy for the most part, and it was Spain who put the game to bed, substitute Williams taking advantage of Semedo's slip to guarantee the three points.

by Tom Kundert

Portugal: Varela, Cancelo, Edgar Ié, Rúben Semedo, Kevin Rodrigues, Rúben Neves, Renato Sanches (Ricardo Horta, 74'), Bruno Fernandes, João Carvalho (Paciência, 66'), Podence (Bruma, 57'), Guedes

Goals:

[0-1] Saul Ñíguez, 21'

[0-2] Sandro Ramírez, 65'

[1-2] Bruma, 77'

[1-3] Iñaki Williams, 93'