Slovakia vs Portugal score, result, highlights as Fernandes’ winner keeps visitors on track for Euro 2024 qualification

By | September 8, 2023
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Portugal have racked up five straight Euro 2024 qualifying wins under new boss Roberto Martinez thanks to a gritty 1-0 victory away at Group J rivals Slovakia.

Martinez’s charges have extended their lead at the top of the group to five points above Slovakia as they remain on course to join the party in Germany next summer.

On a night of few chances for either side, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes crashed home a superb winner just before the break.

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to find the net and the Al Nassr star was fortunate not to be sent off for a clash with Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubrvaka late on.

MORE: Who has qualified for Euro 2024? Teams, groups, who needs what

Slovakia vs Portugal final score

  Full Time Goal scorers
Slovakia 0  
Portugal 1 Fernandes

Confirmed lineups:

Slovakia (4-3-3): Martin Dubravka (GK) — Peter Pekarik, Milan Skriniar, Denis Vavro, David Hankco — Juraj Kucka (Benes, 75), Stanislav Lobotka (Hrosovsky, 83) , Ondrej Duda — Lukas Haraslin  (Duris, 83), Robert Polievka (Bozenik, 63), Ivan Schranz (Suslov, 63)

Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa (GK) — Diogo Dalot, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva, Joao Cancelo (Semedo, 63) — Bruno Fernandes, Joao Palhinha, Bernardo Silva — Cristiano Ronaldo, Vitinha (Otavio, 63), Rafael Leao (Neto, 63)

MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal star odds to score, betting tips and best bets

Slovakia vs Portugal live updates and highlights

FULL TIME: SLOVAKIA 0 PORTUGAL 1

Not a vintage performance from Portugal but it is five wins from five Euro 2024 qualifiers in 2023 and they are right on track to seal a spot in Germany next summer.

85 mins: More changes from Slovakia for the final minutes but the contest looks to be ending in Portugal’s favour.

77 mins: RONALDOOOOO……NO

That looked to be the chance Ronaldo has been waiting for as his snap shot is batted away by Dubravaka BUT the flag was up for offside!

73 mins: WHAT A CHANCE FOR SLOVAKIA!

The hosts best chance of the night as a free kick is swung into the Portugal box and captain Milan Skriniar heads just over the bar!

65 mins: Ronaldo has been on the periphery of the game so far and he picks up a booking to catching Dubravaka when lunging for a loose ball in the box……a nasty one for the Newcastle stopper.

*Watch in UK

As Portugal look for a second goal, Martinez makes a double change with Leao and Cancelo replaced by Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo.

Otavio is on for Vitinha in attack.

58 mins: Joao Cancelo pings an effort at goal but Dubravaka makes a strong stop to deny Barcelona’s latest signing. Pekarik’s long range hit is repelled by Costa as Slovakia keep pushing for an equaliser.

50 mins: No changes for either side at the break. However, there are some eye-catching latest scores elsewhere in Group J.

Luxembourg are leading Iceland 1-0 and Bosnia and Herzegovina are 2-1 up away in Liechtenstein. As it stands, Portugal are moving five points clear at the top of the group.

46 mins: BACK UNDERWAY

Fernandes’ goal is the difference as we restart in Bratislava!

HALF TIME: SLOVAKIA 0 PORTUGAL 1

One chance and one goal for Portugal…..but it was made in Manchester!

Fernandes’ superb driving run was not stopped by the Slovakia back line as he slammed home his third goal in Euro 2024 qualifying!

43 mins: PORTUGAL LEAD 1-0!

From nowhere…….Portugal take the lead!

Lukas Haraslin’s curling effort clips Costa’s post and Portugal storm up the other end to score. Bernardo Silva slipped in Fernandes on the right wing and the Manchester United playmaker strode away from two Slovakia tackles to power past Dubravaka!

*Watch in UK

40 mins: Frustration starting to grow for Portugal, as Vitinha is pulled up for a foul, and Slovakia reset.

35 mins: First caution of the night as Ivan Schranz is booked for a foul.

30 mins: Half an hour on the clock, but there is little sign of a breakthrough so far, as the two top teams in Group J go head-to-head.

25 mins: Slovakia will be pleased with the opening quarter of the tie as Portugal struggle for fluency in attack.

17 mins: Half chances from distance at both ends as Slovakia star Robert Polievka tests Diogo Costa and Bruno Fernandes’ drive is kept out by Martin Dubravka.

10 mins: A fairly even start in Bratislava as a full throttle collision between Rafael Leao and Peter Pekarik forces a break in play.

KICK OFF: WE ARE UNDERWAY IN BRATISLAVA!

30 mins to KO: Fulham star Joao Palhinha anchors the Portugal midfield tonight just days after missing out on a summer move to Bayern Munich.

1 hr to KO: TEAM NEWS IS IN!

Ronaldo captains Portugal as expected with a huge Premier League influence in Martinez’s starting XI with five players plying their trade in England.

1 hr and 30 mins to KO: Will tonight be a another BIG night for Ronaldo?

2 hours to KO Ronaldo will be looking to extend his lead as the all-time leading goalscorer and appearance-maker in men’s international football. With 123 goals in 200 games, he remains vital to Portugal.

Slovakia vs Portugal lineups

Paris Saint-Germain defender Milan Skriniar captains the hosts, but their attack is short on goals following the second international retirement of Marek Hamsik.

Slovakia projected lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Dubravka (GK) — Pekarik, Skriniar, Vavro, Hankco — Kucka, Lobotka, Duda — Haraslin, Polievka, Schranz

Ronaldo leads Portugal in his 201st international cap with the Al Nassr forward looking to extend his goalscoring streak in 2023.

Martinez has constantly rotated his starting team since taking charge but Diogo Costa, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes allstart.

Portugal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Costa (GK) — Dalot, Dias, A. Silva, Cancelo — Fernandes, Palhinha, B. Silva — Ronaldo, Vitinha, Leao

Slovakia vs Portugal live stream, TV channel

The Slovakia vs. Portugal Euro 2024 qualifying match kicks off at 8:45 p.m. local time at the Tehelne Pole Stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Below are the TV channels and live streams to watch the match in regions around the world.

  TV Streaming
USA — Fubo, ViX
Canada — DAZN
UK Viaplay Sports 2 Viaplay Sports UK
Australia — Optus Sport
India — Sony LIV, JioTV
Hong Kong — —
Malaysia Astro SuperSport 3 Astro GO, sooka
Singapore HUB Sports 2 StarHub TV+
New Zealand Sky Sport 3 NZ —

UK: This match is available for broadcast and streaming via Viaplay Sports services.

USA: This game can be streamed via Fubo, with Spanish language options available in Spanish on ViX.

Canada: All Euro 2024 qualifiers are available for streaming via DAZN.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.

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