Date: June 18, 2016
Result: Portugal 0 Austria 0
Scorers:
Portugal: none
Austria: none
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
Match overview:
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty and had a goal ruled out for offside as Portugal were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Austria in Paris. Portugal dominated possession and had plenty of chances but could not find a way through to goal. Ronaldo, on the night be became Portugal’s most capped player of all time, endured a particularly frustrating time, especially after comments following the draw with Iceland in the previous match.
Austria had deployed David Alaba in an attacking role but he was left isolated as the Austrians had to submit to waves of Portuguese attacks. Nani came closest for Portugal in the first half, hitting a post with a header from a corner while Ronaldo side-footed a wonderful chance wide of the post.
In the second half, Portugal converged on the Austrian goal but often failed with their final pass. Ronaldo wasted a free-kick that he insisted on blasting at the Austrian ball from 40 yards out. He then fluffed the penalty that had been awarded after he was pushed over by Martin Hinteregger, striking the bottom of a post with Austria keeper Robert Almer beaten. And just as it seemed his frustrating night could not get any worse, Ronaldo found the net with a header, only to see the goal struck off because he was offside.
Key moment:
Portugal looked like they were finally about to make the breakthrough after a night of missed opportunities but Ronaldo hit a post with his 79th-minute penalty, awarded after he had been pushed over by Austrian defender Martin Hinteregger.
Man of the match:
Austria goalkeeper Robert Almer played a key role in repelling a wave of Portuguese attacks.
Matter of fact:
Cristiano Ronaldo became Portugal’s most capped player, winning his 128th cap and overtaking the previous record set by Luis Figo.
Talking point:
Ronaldo may have become Portugal’s most capped player of all time but he endured one of the most frustrating nights of his career. At the age of 31, he played like the long club season in Spain had caught up with him. Taunted by Austrian fans with chants of “Messi! Messi!”, his miserable evening was capped by missing penalty in the second half and then when he did get the ball in the net, his header was ruled offside.
Stats:
Goal attempts
Portugal: 13
Austria: 3
Attempts on target
Portugal: 6
Austria: 1
Corners
Portugal: 10
Austria: 0
Line-ups:
Portugal
01 Rui Patricio
03 Pepe
05 Raphael Guerreiro
06 Ricardo Carvalho
07 Cristiano Ronaldo
08 Joao Moutinho
11 Vierinha
14 William Carvalho
15 Andre Gomes (09 Eder 83)
17 Nani (18 Rafa Silva 88)
20 Ricardo Queresma (10 Joao Mario 70)
Starting formation: 4-4-2
Rui Patricio – Vierinha, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Raphael Guerreiro – Queresma, William Carvalho, Joao Moutinho, Andre Gomes – Nani, Ronaldo
Austria
01 Robert Almer
04 Martin Hinteregger
05 Christian Fuchs
06 Stefan Ilsanker (16 Kevin Wimmer 86)
07 Marko Arnautovic
08 David Alaba (18 Alessandro Schopf 64)
11 Martin Harnik
14 Julian Baumgartlinger
15 Sebastan Prodl
17 Florian Klein
20 Marcel Sabitzer (19 Lukas Hinterseer 84)
Starting formation: 4-2-3-1
Almer – Klein, Prodl, Hinteregger, Fuchs – Ilsanker, Baumgartlinger – Harnik, Alaba, Arnautovic – Sabitzer
Yellow cards:
Portugal: Queresma 30, Pepe 39
Austria: Klein 26, Fuchs 60, Hinteregger 78, Schopf 85
Referee: Niccola Rizzoli (Ita)
Attendance: 44,291