WC Play-Offs
Portugal

Portugal v North Macedonia - as it happened

Paul Singh 2 years ago 8.8k |

Reading time: minutes

Portugal v North Macedonia, World Cup 2022 play-off final, 29/3/2022, line-ups. BeSoccer
Portugal v North Macedonia, World Cup 2022 play-off final, 29/3/2022, line-ups. BeSoccer
Join us for live coverage of the World Cup qualifying play-off final between Portugal and North Macedonia at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto. The winners will make the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Goal

List of goalscorers

Bruno Fernandes
32'
1 - 0
Bruno Fernandes
65'
2 - 0
Press

Match report in news

  • 93'
    FT: Portugal 2-0 Macedonia! All over in Porto and Portugal have qualified for the World Cup! It's a fully deserved win and once B Fernandes made it 1-0 after 32 minutes, Macedonia were never in the game. A counter in the 65th minute completed by Fernandes ruled out any hope of a shock leveller and this was a step too far for North Macedonia. Thanks for joining us and see you again soon!
  • 92'
    Portugal sub: Vitinha replaces J Moutinho.
  • 91'
    Three extra minutes.
  • 90'
    Macedonia win a corner.
  • 88'
    Portugal double sub: J Felix on for B Silva and Fernandes is replaced by Matheus Nunes.
Substitution

Substitution

at Macedonia del Norte
Substitution

Substitution

at Portugal
  • 87'
    Macedonia sub: Elmas on for Nikolov.
  • 87'
    Portugal win themselves a corner.
  • 85'
    B Silva's cross is blocked by an opponent.
  • 80'
    Macedonia want a penalty at the other end as Danilo makes contact with the Macedonia attacker, but the ref says no. It could've been given.
  • 79'
    Portugal counterattack, Fernandes plays for Ronaldo and Macedonia clear!
Substitution

Substitution

at Portugal
  • 77'
    Portugal double sub: Leao on for Jota and Otavio is replaced by Carvalho.
  • 75'
    Macedonia sub: Askovski is on for Kostadinov.
Card

Yellow card

a Macedonia del Norte
  • 74'
    Otavio goes down under contact from Alioski and the ref books the Macedonian. There's a slight trip, but I thought there were worse fouls, to be honest.
  • 72'
    Macedonia have a half chance, but Bardhi's effort along the ground goes wide.
  • 70'
    Shots: 10-2. Macedonia have really done nothing since the first goal as their game plan was ruined.
Card

Yellow card

a Portugal
  • 68'
    Jota didn't like being pushed and Musliu and Cancelo have been booked. Alioski and Jota have somehow avoided cards.
  • 67'
    Jota and Alioski get into a fight for absolutely no reason! The cross from the Liverpool man is blocked and so many other players run in. Why are Portugal getting involved in this fight? They've got nothing to gain from this.
  • 67'
    That was a lovely counter, but Macedonia had to try it. That's the game now.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Portugal en el 65'
  • 65'
    Fernandes makes it 2-0!!! Macedonia want offside, but this looks done! Pepe wins the ball for Portugal, Jota looks to be just onside, Jota then picks out Fernandes, who is definitely on, and he beats Dimitrievski!
  • 65'
    Macedonia run forward, but they're dispossessed just outside the box.
  • 61'
    Fernandes is fouled and Portugal are comfortable. Macedonia need to take the one chance they may get.
  • 60'
    Macedonia sub; Churlinov on for Trajkovski.
  • 59'
    Ronaldo gets his head to B Fernandes' corner and it goes over.
  • 57'
    Portugal win a corner and Fernandes' cross is booted away by Velkoski.
  • 53'
    Free-kick to Macedonia after Jota fouls S Ristovski.
  • 52'
    B Fernandes goes for goal and it's simple for Dimitrievski.
  • 51'
    Free-kick to Portugal after a foul on Otavio.
  • 49'
    Kostadinov puts a nice cross in and Pepe has to clear.
  • 48'
    Portugal attack through Mendes and the cross goes behind for a goal kick.
  • 46'
    Portugal get us going again!
  • 45'
    Macedonia HT sub: Miovski on for M Ristovski.
  • 45'
    HT: Portugal 1-0 Macedonia!! Half-time in Porto and a 32nd minute Fernandes goal after a criminal lateral pass by S Ristovski is the difference here so far. Portugal have been better, but at 0-0, Macedonia looked to be holding firm. However, since 1-0, Portugal look much more in control. Back shortly!
  • 45'
    45+2: Cancelo!!! The Man C man goes for goal, but it flies wide!
  • 45'
    One added minute.
  • 44'
    Portugal win themselves a corner.
  • 40'
    A ball forward finds Ronaldo, he cuts back, Macedonia fail to get it clear and Jota hits wide!
  • 36'
    Portugal are looking for a second here to put this beyond Macedonia.
  • 35'
    The crowd are in full voice now. Macedonia had Portugal pretty much under control up to that point, but you can't legislate for mistakes like that.
  • 33'
    That was absolutely criminal by Ristovski. What on earth was he thinking with that lateral pass towards the middle? You can't do that against Portugal.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Portugal en el 32'
  • 32'
    Portugal score after a defensive howler!! S Ristovski plays a criminal lateral pass in his own half, B Fernandes intercepts and plays a one-two with Ronaldo and Fernandes then beats Dimitrievski!
  • 28'
    Nuno Mendes is down injured after Kostadinov slides in and makes a very poor tackle from behind. It was a clear yellow, but Taylor says no foul!
  • 26'
    The home side move the ball well and the away side have to concede a corner.
  • 24'
    Jota!!! The Liverpool man is loses his marker at the far post, but the header into the ground goes over.
  • 23'
    Portugal win themselves a corner.
  • 20'
    Alioski goes for goal from distance and it goes wide!
  • 17'
    Bardhi's ball in goes straight into Costa's hands.
  • 17'
    Cancelo makes a silly foul and this free-kick will go into the box.
  • 16'
    And another corner for the visitors.
  • 15'
    Macedonia win a corner here after Alioski's shot is blocked.
  • 14'
    Ronaldo!!! What a chance! Otavio plays in Ronaldo, he hits across Dimitrievski and looks for the far corner, but it goes just wide.
  • 13'
    A ball into the area from Cancelo finds B Fernandes at the back stick and he heads over.
  • 11'
    It's been a quiet start to the contest so far.
  • 9'
    Portugal threaten down the middle, but Fernandes' shot is blocked by Musliu.
  • 6'
    N Mendes' ball from this near side is a nice one, but neither Fernandes nor Ronaldo could reach it.
  • 6'
    A long throw by Portugal sees Macedonia clear away. Portugal playing better.
  • 4'
    Cancelo's cross into the area is booted away by Musliu.
  • 3'
    B Silva brings down Kostadinov and it's a free-kick for the visitors.
  • 1'
    Macedonia make a move forward and D Pereira clears.
  • 1'
    Macedonia get us going in white from left to right! Portugal are in red!
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    Ronaldo and S Ristovski come together for the toss.
  • PRVW
    The players are out and the anthems are being sung!
  • PRVW
    Nikolov and Churlinov are replaced by Elmas and Kostadinov. They are the two alterations from the win over Italy.
  • PRVW
    Pepe is back from COVID while Cancelo returns from suspension. Nuno Mendes is also into the team while Dalot, Guerreiro and Fonte drop out from Portugal's semi-final.
  • PRVW
    We will have ET and penalties if needed here this evening. A reminder that Portugal overcame a major scare against Turkey to win 3-1 in the semi-final while Macedonia shocked Italy with a 0-1 win.
  • PRVW
    It's 14 degrees and sunny in Porto for this one.
  • PRVW
    Anthony Taylor of England is the referee while Chris Kavanagh is the VAR.
  • PRVW
    North Macedonia XI: Dimitrievski (GK); Alioski, Velkoski, Musliu, S Ristovski; Trajkovski, Ademi, Bardhi, Elmas; Kostadinov and M Ristovski.
  • PRVW
    Portugal XI: D Costa (GK); N Mendes, Pepe, D Pereira, Cancelo; Otavio, Moutinho, B Fernandes; Ronaldo, Jota and B Silva.
Info

Pre-match

29 March 2022, 20:45

Referee: Anthony Taylor | VAR: Chris Kavanagh

Stadium: Estádio Do Dragão

  • PRVW
    Hello and welcome to live coverage of the World Cup play-off final between Portugal and North Macedonia!