LEIRIA, Portugal (AP) — Portugal world cup Feeling the 2-1 win over Nigeria in the preliminary match and regrets towards the star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo was unable to add to his men’s record 143 goals in international competition against Leiria on Wednesday, despite being given a clear chance to break through with just the goalkeeper in both halves.
The five-time Player of the Year was allowed to stay on the field longer than any other outfield player before starting the game for Portugal, being substituted in the 65th minute.
This will be Ronaldo’s record-tying sixth appearance in the World Cup.
Francisco Conceição, one of Portugal’s 11 substitutes, scored the winning goal in the 75th minute when he cut in from the right and fired a shot into the far corner.
Pedro Neto gave Portugal the lead in the 23rd minute. Nigeria, who had missed out on qualifying for the World Cup, scored the equalizer 14 minutes later through Akol Adams.
Portugal are in Group K at the World Cup, along with Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
