PORTUGAL 2-1 BELGIUM

João Neves (55'), Tiago Dantas (88' pen)

Vertessen (64')

Portugal have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Under 21 European Championships against all odds, after a thrilling 2-1 win against Belgium in Tbilisi.

A late penalty by Portuguese captain Tiago Dantas secured a win for Portugal, with Georgia's draw with the Netherlands in the other Group A game sufficient for Portugal to join the host nation in the last 8.

Going into the game, Portugal were bottom of the group with 1 point, after losing 2-0 to hosts Georgia and then drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands. Portugal needed to not only win, but also hope that the Netherlands failed to beat Georgia. Belgium on the other hand, had drawn their opening two games, and would qualify with a win.

Both teams started the match brightly, with Belgium hitting the post and Portugal testing Belgium's goalkeeper Vandevoordt within the first 70 seconds.

Portugal had a spell of dominating the match in the early stages of the first half, with their right-winger Pedro Neto making life difficult for Belgian fullback Maxim De Cuyper, but couldn't convert their chances against a very disciplined and organised Belgian defence.

Belgium then established control of the game around the 25-minute mark, but only one chance, from Balikwisha, seriously tested Celton Biai, the Portuguese goalkeeper. Belgium's linkup play between the front four (Ramazani, De Ketelaere, Balikwisha and Openda) was pretty to watch, but they couldn't find the end product required, and the first half ended goalless. 

 

The second half started where the first left off, with both teams going close early on, but in the 55th minute, Portugal made the breakthrough. 

A cross from Fábio Silva, who ironically spent this season on loan for Anderlecht in Belgium, was deflected into the path of João Neves, who sweetly struck a volley into the back of the net.

That goal forced Jacky Mathijssen, Belgium's manager into making substitutions. Yorbe Vertessen came on for Ramazani, while Eliot Matazo made way for Nicolas Raskin. In addition to them 2 subs, Portugal also made a switch: Francisco Conceição was replaced by Diego Moreira.

Barely five minutes after coming on, Vertessen was on the end of a lovely cross from Openda, and the former scored the equaliser through an unstoppable header, sending the small contingent of Belgian fans, in a mostly empty stadium, wild.

With Portugal 25 minutes away from a premature group-stage exit, it was time for Rui Jorge, the manager, to gamble. Off came Fábio Silva and goalscorer Neves; on came Henrique Araújo and Almeida.

The first signs of desperation came from Portugal shortly after, with a free kick forcing a corner. Subsequently, Dantas' corner fell to Samuel Costa, who shot wide from an acrobatic overhead kick.

However Belgium almost snatched victory when, following some neat interplay between the front 3, De Ketelaere fed Vertessen who blazed over from close range. Moments later, Openda thought he had scored Belgium's second goal, but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.

Rui Jorge had introduced Paulo Bernardo, an attacking midfielder as a replacement for Samuel Costa, as time started running out while Neto continued to make a nuisance of himself.

Portugal were then given a controversial penalty in the 88th minute after Zeno Debast, the most experienced of Belgium's defenders, made a hash of a clearance, forcing Vandevoordt to come out. In doing so, Debast blocked the path of Araújo, who was attempting to contest the high ball, which gave the referee no choice but to award the penalty.

Portugal's captain, Tiago Dantas, showed nerves of steel to fire the ball past Vandevoordt. It was a huge kick in the teeth for Belgium, having defended so well for most of the game, they conceded a needless penalty and were facing elimination.

Belgium's desperate attempts at an equaliser were in vain, as Portugal saw out the remainder of the match, to win 2-1. With Georgia's match against the Netherlands ending 1-1, Portugal had qualified for the quarter finals, sparking joyous celebrations from the players and the small minority of fans inside the stadium.

Belgium were eliminated, bottom of Group A, which is considered a massive failure from their perspective. They could still take encouragement from the fact that the academies of Anderlecht, Genk and Club Brugge are continunig to produce quality players.

Portugal's reward will be a quarter final against Lee Carsley's England, on Monday evening, as they bid to win the trophy after they lost the 2021 final to Germany.

 

Portugal: Celton Biai; José Carlos, Alexandre Penetra, André Amaro, Nuno Tavares; Tiago Dantas (c), João Neves (André Almeida 68'), Samuel Costa (Paulo Bernardo 78'); Francisco Conceição (Diego Moreira 61'), Fábio Silva (Henrique Araújo 68'), Pedro Neto.

Belgium: Vandevoordt, Siquet, Debast, De Winter, De Cuyper; Matazo (Raskin 61'), De Ketelaere, Vranckx (c), Ramazani (Vertessen 61'); Balikwisha, Openda.

 

Referee: Willy Delajod (France)