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That's that and Portugal have one foot in the semifinals as they move atop the group with 4 points. Russia were abysmal in the first half and rather good in the second but paid the price for a moment of defensive slackness in the first and some lacklustre finishing in the second.
As ever, Ronaldo does it for his team. This man. Phew!
That's all from me after a wonderfully entertaining match - thank you for reading - Anirudh Menon signing out
94' AOOOGAAA! THAT WAS THE CHANCE! Erokhin cushioned a Bukharov header straight onto the path of Smolov but the striker's shot curled well wide of the goal!
93' Russia rampage forward again and with even Ronaldo in his defensive third, Portugal batten down the hatches. Smolov is found on the right and the big man sends it harmlessly into the hands of Rui Patricio
92' OH RUI PATRICIO! Zhirkov sent in another floater that the Portuguese keeper palmed away after seemingly having lost his bearings and it's a corner.... OH MY OH MY OH MY! DZHIKIA LEAPS HIGHEST TO SMASH SAMEDOV'S EXCELLENT DELIVERY JUST INCHES WIDE OF PATRICIO'S GOAL!
91' FOUR MINUTES OF ADDED TIME - Silva tries to flick one through for Ronaldo but the goalscorer can't get it under control. At the other end Zhirkov flings one but Eliseu does well to head it wide
86' Smolov makes a nuisance of himself in the Portuguese box, but he's doing it while being offside and Portugal escape to the Russian half where Bernardo Silva wins them a smart freekick
85' Russia move forward with the enterprising Golovin but Bukharov can't get it under control. Silva breaks and shows some lovely quick feet to rid himself of Zhirkov but Ronaldo's extravagant attempt at a backheel give-and-go doesn't really pay off.
83' Russia are throwing the kitchen sink at this as Fedor Kudryashov is taken for Aleksander Bukharov. A centre back for a centre forward is just what the occasion called for
81' Russia seem a touch spent - or maybe they are readying themselves for a final all-out assault - either way the ball, and the momentum, is right back with Portugal.
79' Russia need to keep their heads about them, too many cheap fouls are being given away, wasting the head of steam they'd built up in the last ten minutes or so. Smolov the latest culprit
77' Adrien Silva floats in a long ball but it bounces off William Cavalho (you can almost hear the comical *pling*) and out for a goalkick. Santos then hooks young Andre Silva to fling on just-as-young Gelson Martins. Ronaldo will now be up top on his own.
75' Silva is still playing some gorgeous football - one outside of the boot crossfield to Eliseu stands out - and the Portuguese are passing it around with the sole intention of sucking Russia's momentum dry.
73' OH SILVA! Andre Silva is released on the edge of the box by a clever Gomes ball but he takes too long and Vasin is able to fling himself into a marvelous block. Boy does the stadium love this show of spunk from their underdog team
72' Poloz is terrifying Eliseu but the left back holds his ground and another Portugal counter is stopped by Dzhikkii pulling down Andre Silva. Lucky to escape with just a talking to!
71' Glushikov's delivery is excellent and the ball pinballs around the box before Dzhikiia hammers into Pepe - who as one would suspect makes the most of it by rolling around and sucking the wind out of Russia's sails. The big Russian goes into the book, by the by
68' OH! Samedov sends in a lovely little ball that Pepe clears brilliantly, but Russia still have the ball all to themselves as Zhirkov and Samedov take in turns again to swing it in...
66' This is proper end to end stuff as Yuri Zhirkov pulls off a stunning piece of skill to almost break into the box. Nothing doing, though. Substitutions galore as Eliseu replaces an injured Raphael Guerrero and Poloz is thrown to replace the wing-back Kombarov... Russia are going all in and why not!
64' Portugal counter again with Ronaldo and the Portuguese skipper slips in Silva, who draws the defence and lays it off to Ronaldo again- the great man, though, is having an off half and he sends his shot into orbit.
63' EI SMOLOV! The big man, who has sprung to life suddenly, uses Smaledov's decoy to cut in and opens up a gap to shoot - but he takes too long with it and the gap is closed down with alarming quickness.
62' OH RONALDO! HOW DID HE NOT SCORE THAT! Cedric punted the ball forward to Ronaldo who ran at Kurdyashov before slipping in Gomes. The midfielder returned the favour by standing one up into the middle, where once again Ronaldo was unmarked again! But somehow, the modern game's best header of the ball guided it wide of goal!!! This game ought to have been over by now
61' THIS IS MUCH BETTER FROM RUSSIA! Erokhin and Smaledov combine to pierce the Portugal box but the latter's ball misses just about everyone and Portugal counter...
60' OW OW OW! OH SMOLOV, OH SMOLOV! The big man starts a move on the left, that gets to Smaledov via Glushakin and Erokhin. The right winger (Smaledov) sends in a teasing ball into the box, but Smolov mistimes his header and it bounces off his noggin' harmlessly
59' Russia move forward again, little choice do they have, but once again the waves of red break harmless on the green wall massed in front of Rui Patricio
58' OOO! TWO ATTEMPTS in quick succession from the European champions. First, from the initial counter Bernardo picks up Andre but the latter Silva's header towards goal is weak, and it's headed away by Vasin. Then, Cedric has a pop from thirty yards that Akinfeev has to scramble to his right and put in a dive to stop from careening into his net.
57' Samedov tries one from nigh on forty yards and why not - but his powerful shot just volleys into a line of green. He almost gets onto the rebound but gets wrestled off it by Alves - no foul says the referee and Portugal counter...
55' Kombarov's ball in is easily cleared by Pepe before Russia come back and attempt to unleash flying winger Yuri Zhirkov in behind the Portuguese defense - only problem, the former Chelsea man is about a mile offside
53' Bernardo Silva and Cedric take it in turns to try and send in a cross from the right, but both of them are foiled by the bat-masked Kurdyashov (he's got one of those nose protection masks on him)
50' WHAT A SAVE! AKINFEEV PULLS OFF AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER FROM ANDRE SILVA'S POWERFUL HEADER!
Ronaldo marauded down the right before laying it off to Cedric. The Southampton man drifted in a lovely little ball that Andre Silva thumped toward goal - before Akinfeev showed amazing reflexes, and no little skill, to dive to his left and palm away the ball. Brilliance from the centurian!
48' The crowd try to get their tema going - and Dzhikiia makes up for his mistake by ushering Bernardo out for a goal kick as the first half's best player tried to wriggle his way into the box.
47' Dhzikiia gives the ball away with a woeful crossfield ball and Portugal go about their merry way again passing it hither and thither. Russia, though, are pressing the ball with far greater urgency and they recover the ball - till Dzhikiia miscontrls a regulation pass and gives away a thrown in
Well, that was as straightforward as they come. Russia trail due to their unforgivable error - WHO DOESN'T MARK RONALDO IN THE PENALTY BOX?!? - and haven't even looked like they have it in them to equalise.
The hosts need to improve drastically in the second half - and play further up the pitch - if they are to have a chance at equalising.
44' Zhirkov - who is playing a rather more advanced role than we've usually seen - chases a hopeful punt forward gamely, but those aging legs don't have it in them to beat Adrien Silva
43' Portugal try to pass the ball in those intricate triangles inside the Russian box before Cedric almost wriggles clear of Kurdyashov - but the Rubin Kazan man holds his ground.
41' Russia piece together their first real moment of menace and it all comes from Golovin. The young man sends in a lovely little ball that Smolov guides wide with a first time volley - but, it's at least promising!
40' Adrien Silva's ball in is cleared decently by the Russians before Zhirkov breaks at pace - only to be hounded off the ball by the ever reliable Carvalho. Ronaldo then attempts to play in Gomes but underhits the ball and it misses the Barca man's run. Naturally, he rages at Gomes. A fair man is Cristiano
39' Portugal knock the ball around in the pleasing manner before Pepe gets fed up and smashes a rather decent long ball aimed at Ronaldo - that Shiskin does well to clear. The team in the lead come back though and Ronaldo ends up winning a corner off a decent cross aimed at Andre Silva
36' Russian counter with a degree of menace and Smolov finds himself in the box against Pepe - but a poor touch lets him down and it's just a goal kick. Russia need to make more of their counters if they are to rattle some bars in that dour Portuguese defence
35' Golovin attempts a fancy backheel flick but only ends up giving it back to the Portuguese. Andre Gomes then tries a fancy curling through ball that - well - ends up giving the ball back to the Russians. This game could do with an injection or two of quality, it has to be said
That's that and Portugal have one foot in the semifinals as they move atop the group with 4 points. Russia were abysmal in the first half and rather good in the second but paid the price for a moment of defensive slackness in the first and some lacklustre finishing in the second.
As ever, Ronaldo does it for his team. This man. Phew!
That's all from me after a wonderfully entertaining match - thank you for reading - Anirudh Menon signing out
Toodle-ooo