It promised to be a Christian festival and ended up being a championship tostón. Portugal started its way to Qatar on the right foot, although it was about to trip over the first pebble that was put in front of it. A ridiculous goal from Azerbaijan's own goal solved the match for the European champions, who must improve their image in the next matches if they do not want to complicate their classification.
Before the a priori ease of the rival, Fernando Santos rotated several of his usual starters in view of the next match against Serbia, which is looming key for qualification. Neither Bruno Fernandes, nor Danilo, nor João Felix, nor Guerreiro were part of the game. In their place came Neves, Mendes, Neto and André Silva, the striker with whom Cristiano has claimed to feel more comfortable in the national team. Watching games like this Wednesday's why is not well understood.
The possibility of having a feast was so favorable for Cristiano that every time he caught the ball, the Portuguese immediately looked for Magomedaliyev's goal. His eagerness to close the gap with Ali Daei, who separated him seven goals to be the top scorer in the history of the national teams, blinded him in the face of goal. That blindness was infected by all his teammates in the first half, who did not find the formula to beat the Azerbaijan goalkeeper. Luckily for the European champion, Medvedev allied with the Portuguese and found a way to beat his own goalkeeper. A safe cross from Cancelo bounced off the side's back and left Magomeliyev, who had left the goal to block the ball, with the mold in his hands as the ball crossed the goal linel.
The trend continued after the break. Cristiano insisted but the ball did not want to enter. Bruno Fernandes and João Felix entered for Neto and André Silva and the entry of both players coincided with the greatest arreón of Portugal, but it did not serve to extend his advantage. What was to be an all-you-can-eat buffet ended up being an aperitif that tasted little, especially Cristiano.