Portugal produced a rusty show of their opening World Cup qualifier at residence to Azerbaijan on Wednesday but nonetheless made a profitable begin with a 1-0 victory in Turin. Maksim Medvedev fumbled the ball into his personal internet after a mix-up with goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev to interrupt the impasse within the thirty seventh minute of a sport moved to Juventus` stadium as a result of COVID-19 restrictions on journey to Portugal.
Portugal dominated possession but couldn’t break down Azerbaijan once more regardless of having 29 makes an attempt on objective, 14 of which hit the goal. All-time scorer Cristiano Ronaldo had eight makes an attempt on objective but had a irritating night at his residence stadium for the second time in 4 video games after Juventus’ shock 1-0 defeat by Serie A strugglers Benevento on Sunday.
Ronaldo went closest with a late free kick which was tipped away by keeper Mahammadaliyev, who was stored busy all night and repelled second-half efforts from substitutes Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix.
Portugal go to Serbia on Saturday of their subsequent Group A sport whereas Azerbaijan face World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar in a pleasant earlier than internet hosting Serbia of their second qualifier.
Mitrovic double in Serbia win
Serbia acquired their 2022 World Cup qualifying marketing campaign off to a optimistic begin as substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a second-half brace to provide them a comeback 3-2 residence win over Ireland of their opening Group A conflict on Wednesday.
Alan Browne gave Ireland an 18th-minute lead out of the blue with a close-range header earlier than Dusan Vlahovic levelled within the fortieth with a first-time shot from contained in the penalty space after Dusan Tadic nodded the ball into his stride.
Tadic pulled all of the strings for Serbia in midfield but the hosts created little up entrance in opposition to a packed Irish defence within the first half, with Ireland’s stand-in goalkeeper Mark Travers denying Filip Djuricic on the stroke of halftime. Ciaran Clark went shut for Ireland with a header and Nikola Milenkovic fired extensive on the different finish within the second half earlier than Mitrovic turned the tide with a pleasant 69th-minute lob shortly after he got here on for Djuricic.
Tadic, who fed Mitrovic with a crisp one-touch move, racked up his third help of the night six minutes later when he picked out Mitrovic with a elegant cross from the left and the Fulham striker beat Travers with a agency header.
