Portugal Claims Dramatic Win in Hungary
Portugal secured a 3-2 victory over Hungary in their UEFA World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday, thanks to a late strike from Joao Cancelo. The win puts the visitors on top of Group F with two wins from as many games.
The match saw Portugal come from behind twice, first equalising after Hungary’s early opener and then sealing the victory moments after the hosts had drawn level late in the game.
Ronaldo Equals World Cup Qualifying Record
Cristiano Ronaldo opened Portugal’s scoring with a penalty in the 58th minute, after Hungary’s Barnabas Varga had initially given the home team the lead in the 21st minute. Bernardo Silva had drawn Portugal level 15 minutes after the Hungarian opener.
Ronaldo’s goal made him joint-top scorer in World Cup qualifying history with 39 goals, tying Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz. The 40-year-old also extended his international tally to 141 goals in 223 appearances.
Late Drama Seals Victory
Hungary appeared set to salvage a point when Varga headed his second goal of the match in the 84th minute, but Cancelo struck two minutes later with a first-time shot to secure all three points for Portugal.
“It’s never easy once you fall behind, and we showed a lot of character,” said Bernardo Silva. “Even after Hungary scored late, we still managed to score the winner.”
Group F Standings After Matchday 2
Portugal now leads Group F with six points, following a 5-0 win over Armenia on Saturday. Armenia sits second with three points, while Hungary and the Republic of Ireland have one point each.
Portugal’s Focus Moves to Next Matches
With automatic qualification for group winners on the line, Portugal will look to maintain their strong start in upcoming fixtures. Ronaldo’s continued goal-scoring exploits and Portugal’s resilience on the road provide a strong statement to the rest of Group F.
