The Euro 2020 Group F opener between Hungary and Portugal was decided in the last 10 minutes, with Portugal earning the win 3-0, despite the game being tied at 0-0 until the 84th minute.
Almost 70,000 fans attended the match in Budapest. Tens of thousands of Hungarian supporters rallied across the city on their way to the stadium, creating a pre-pandemic vibe around the Euros this year.
Hungary fans marching to the stadium before #HUNPOR #HUN #POR #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/NiViTuZ0b0
— OGCOM (@OGambling) June 15, 2021
Ronaldo scored Portugal’s last two goals and is now the undisputed top goal-scorer in the European Championship’s history, totaling 11 goals. A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo was tied for first place on the all-time best scorers’ list with French legend Michel Platini. Ronaldo is also the first man to compete in five European tournaments.
Late drama decides the winner in Budapest
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota missed two important chances for Portugal before Ronaldo put a ball over the crossbar from six meters out late in the first half. After the break, Portugal remained the most dangerous team on the pitch.
Aaaaugh! Unbelievable miss from Cristiano Ronaldo here! He was just 5 meters out but still couldn't send the ball on target! #POR #HUNPOR #EURO2020
Portugal should have taken the lead here! pic.twitter.com/oKIAHeCcrG— OGCOM (@OGambling) June 15, 2021
It was Hungary who scored first after 79 minutes, but the goal was ruled out by the referees. Szabolcs Schon put the ball past Rui Patricio, only to see the linesman’s flag go up less than a second later. What followed was a totally unpredictable turn of events. Portugal scored three goals in the space of just eight minutes to put a complicated game beyond all doubt.
Raphael Guerreiro was lucky with a deflection from an opponent to beat the in-form Peter Gulacsi (’84). Then, Ronaldo converted a penalty just three minutes later. It was also Ronaldo who turned the scoreboard off with another goal in the second minute of added time.
Football.
'79 #HUN 0-0 #POR. Schon's goal is ruled out for offside.
'84 #HUN 0-1 #POR. Guereiro scores with a deflected shot.
'87 #HUN 0-2 #POR. Cristiano Ronaldo scores from a penalty.
'90+2 #HUN 0-3 #POR Cristiano Ronaldo's second.
Game over. pic.twitter.com/kwwI0w8lrL— OGCOM (@OGambling) June 15, 2021
Ronaldo’s quest for records continues
Ronaldo now has 106 goals for Portugal and is just three behind former Iranian striker Ali Daei (109), the world’s most prolific national team goalscorer. Apart from being the most prolific goal-getter in the European tournaments, Ronaldo is also the top goalscorer in the qualifying stages, with 31 goals.
Portugal set the record for most passes before a goal at Euro 2020, moving the ball 33 times before Ronaldo bagged his second of the day against Hungary. “The important thing was to win. It was a difficult game, against an opponent who defended very well,” Ronaldo commented after the game. “We scored three goals and I am very grateful to the team for helping me score twice.”
The 33-pass Portugal goal, in full, from above.
Poetry. pic.twitter.com/qE9EAgzBPY
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) June 15, 2021
In the other game in Group F, France beat Germany 1-0 in Munich. Hummels put the ball into his own net in the 20th minute. France also had two goals disallowed for offside positions.
France, Germany, Portugal, and Hungary are back in action on Saturday when Hungary plays France (15:00 CET) in Budapest, and Portugal travels to Munich to play Germany (18:00 CET).
