Portugal 3-1 Turkey: Cristiano Ronaldo and Co progress to World Cup qualifying play-off final

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s crusade to reach in a fifth World Cup moved a step closer to reality as Portugal scraped past Turkey but not without a serious scare on Thursday night.

The Portuguese seemed to be coasting through when they went two goals up in the first half, courtesy of Diogo Jota and Otavio.

But Burak Yilmaz pulled one back for the Turks and was presented with a golden chance to equalise from a penalty, in the 85th minute.

Yilmaz missed the target and Matheus Nunes went on to snatch Portugal’s third in the final seconds as the visitors threw players forward with an air of desperation. 

Fans at the Estadio do Dragao waved Ukraine flags in support after the Russian invasion there

Midfielder Otavio (l) opened the scoring for Portugal, capitalising on his side’s early pressure

At times tempers flared between the sides in a fractious first half which saw three bookings

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota (above right) then doubled Portugal’s lead just before half-time

He beat former Reds team-mate Ozan Kabak (left) to head in superbly from Otavio’s clever ball

Veteran striker Burak Yilmaz (left), 36, then pulled one back for Turkey just after the hour mark

Goals and personal glory eluded Ronaldo on this occasion but his team moved into the final of the Path C play-off, back in Porto on Tuesday.

Portugal, present at every major tournament since 1998, only surrendered their grip on direct qualification for Qatar in stoppage time of their final qualifier when Aleksandar Mitrovic condemned them to a last-gasp defeat and Serbia won Group A.

Much of that particular inquest swirled around Ronaldo but boss Fernando Santos was unflinching in his support going into this play-off. The 37-year-old Manchester United striker led his nation out in Porto, his 185th international cap, and the early offensive revolved around him.

Ronaldo lashed his first chance high over and then tested Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir from distance. Between these attempts, Diogo Jota missed the goal from close range as he slid to connect with a free-kick whipped across from the right by Bruno Fernandes.

For all this Premier League talent on display, it was Porto’s Brazil-born Otavio who soothed Portuguese nerves in the 15th minute, pouncing to squeeze in a rebound after Bernardo Silva’s low drive was tipped onto the inside of a post and fizzed out across goal.

Turkey, hugely disappointing at Euro 2020 last year, steadied and summoned a response, causing problems for a defence weakened by the absences of Pepe, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo.

Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa made saves to deny Cengiz Under and Orkun Kokcu, and Berkan Kutlu headed wide at the back post when he should have hit the target.

Jota extended the lead to deflate the visitors, three minutes before the half-time interval. It was a brilliant header by the Liverpool striker from a cross by Otavio, impressive while winning only his third cap.

The Portuguese continued to carve out good opportunities in the second half without settling the contest. Cakir saved from Bernardo, and Jota tried to capitalise on a mistake by Ozan Kabak, the Norwich centre-half who was a Liverpool teammate last season.

Referee Daniel Siebert awarded Turkey a late penalty after checking the pitch-side monitor

But Lille striker Yilmaz was leaning back and his spot-kick clipped the bar before going over

Matheus Nunes then wrapped up the game in stoppage time as Turkey pushed for an equaliser

The hosts, led by Cristiano Ronaldo (right), will face North Macedonia in their play-off final

Kabak recovered just in time to make a tackle. Jota missed again after skipping past Cakir as the Turkey goalkeeper who had rushed out of his area. The net was unguarded but Jota was some 35 yards out and fired his shot over.

Turkey seemed resigned to their fate until Yilmaz halved the deficit midway through the second half, trading passes with Under and producing a clinical low finish with his left foot as he advanced into the Portugal penalty area.

Eight minutes remained when substitute Enes Unal tumbled in dramatic style, after he was clipped by Jose Fonte. The German officials on the pitch did not award the foul but referee Daniel Siebert was sent to the pitch-side monitor to check out the replay.

Fonte had missed the ball and caught Enes, albeit with no real force. Even so, Siebert returned to point to the spot. Veteran Yilmaz, 36 years old, stepped up and struck it sweetly but the ball soared high, clipped the bar and flew over.

Portugal breathed a sigh of relief.