World Cup 2018: Uruguay vs. Portugal recap, highlights from La Celeste's 2-1 victory

Kenan Goyette

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World Cup 2018: Uruguay vs. Portugal recap, highlights from La Celeste's 2-1 victory image

In a defensive showdown, it was Uruguay that came out on top defeating Portugal, 2-1 in the Round of 16.

Uruguay got the match started early in the seventh minute when strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani connected on an epic passing display that ended with a Cavani goal to put La Celeste up. 

WORLD CUP 2018:  Uruguay vs. Portugal preview, players to watch, key stats

In the second half, Portugal was able to answer with a corner kick header from Pepe to tie things up and give Uruguay their first goal against since November 2017. It didn't take long for Uruguay to respond though with another Suarez to Cavani play marking their second of the day and giving their squad the win.

Uruguay's win means Portugal were eliminated once again in the knockout round. For Ronaldo, this was his fifth Round of 16 match but he has yet to score a goal in any of them, leading to another disappointing World Cup ending for one of the best soccer players of all time.

Uruguay will advance to the quarterfinals and will face France next.

Uruguay vs. Portugal, TV channel and live stream

In the U.S., Uruguay vs. Portugal aired live on Fox and was live-streamed, along with the rest of the World Cup, on fuboTV ( sign up for a free seven-day trial ). 

Uruguay vs. Portugal: Recap, highlights

Final: Uruguay 2, Portugal 1

SECOND HALF

85 — And a Portugal sub in, Manuel Fernandes replaces Joao Mario. Not much time left for Portugal.

81 — Another sub for Uruguay and it's Carlos Sánchez replacing Nahitan Nández.

74 —  Cristhian Stuani comes in for Cavani and Uruguay. For Portugal, Andre Silva is in for Goncalo Guedes.

71 — Edinson Cavani down hurt. He's limping off the field now and will be subbed out.

70 — Close call for Uruguay. Goalie Fernando Muslera loses the ball and leaves the net but Portugal's shot misses high.

65 — Portugal subs now. Ricardo Quaresma replaces Adrien Silva.

63 — First substitution of the match is for Uruguay and it's Cristian Rodríguez for Rodrigo Bentancur.

62 — Uruguay answers! Just like that La Celeste is back up 2-1 after an assist from Luis Suarez and a beauty of a strike from Edinson Cavani, his second of the day.

55 — Tied up! Pepe heads it in to knot things up, 1-1. That's the first goal allowed all tournament for Uruguay.

52 — Uruguay's defense is rock solid. Another corner kick from Portugal gets deflected away.

HALFTIME

It's been all about Uruguay in this one. A beauty of a passing display led to an early Edinson Cavani goal that put them up 1-0. Portugal hasn't been able to respond despite a few opportunities including a Ronaldo free kick. The Portuguese have dominated the time of possession having the ball for 64-percent of the first half. They have eight shots but just two on goal compared to Uruguay's four shots with two on goal. Overall, Uruguay has looked like the far superior squad in this one.

FIRST HALF

44 — Luis Suarez is down with an apparent head injury and play is stopped but he appears OK.

38 — Another try for Portugal on the header from Goncalo Guedes but it's saved by Uruguayan goalie Fernando Muslera. Uruguay looking much more comfortable than the Portuguese.

32 — Ronaldo gets a free kick try just outside the box but it goes right at the wall. Uruguay still leads, 1-0.

22 — Luis Suarez gets a free kick outside the box and nearly gets it to go but Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio makes a nice save.

7 — Uruguay strikes! Edinson Cavani passes it across the field to Luis Suarez who crosses right back to Cavani for the header in the top right. Beautiful passing display.

6th minute — Ronaldo gives it a rip from outside the box but can't convert it.

Uruguay vs. Portugal notes 

(via Opta)

  • This is the first time Uruguay have won their opening four games to a World Cup tournament since 1930, with the fourth game in that run being their 4-2 victory over Argentina in the final.

  • Portugal have now lost their last four World Cup matches in the knockout stages of the tournament, since a goalless draw with England in the 2006 quarterfinals.

  • Uruguay’s winning goal came from their only shot of any kind in the second half. They had just 30% possession after halftime.

  • Edinson Cavani scored his 44th and 45th goals for Uruguay. Twelve of those have been assisted by Luis Suarez.

  • Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani scored with both of his shots on target tonight.

  • Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato & Andrzej Szarmach (five for Poland) and Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose (five for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez (4).

  • This was Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo’s 38th game in World Cups/European Championships — no player has played in more across the two competitions (equal with Bastian Schweinsteiger).

  • Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has played 514 minutes (five matches) of football in the knockout stages of the World Cup, but has failed to score or provide an assist.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo attempted six shots for Portugal tonight (one on target) – one more than the entire Uruguay team managed over the 90 minutes.

  • At 35 years and 124 days, Pepe became Portugal’s oldest ever goal scorer in a major tournament match (World Cup and European Championships).

Uruguay starting XI

Portugal starting XI

Kenan Goyette