Match ends, Portugal 1, Azerbaijan 0.
PortugalPortugal1AzerbaijanAzerbaijan0
Reigning European champions Portugal made a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as they edged a stubborn Azerbaijan.
Maksim Medvedev's unfortunate own goal proved the difference when a punched clearance by goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev hit the defender and deflected into his own net.
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score on a frustrating night for him.
The Juventus forward went closest when his overhead kick went over the bar.
He also saw a free-kick deflected wide and a strong shot kept out by Mahammadaliyev as he looked to add to his international tally.
Ronaldo is seven behind all-time leading international scorer Ali Daei, who has 109 goals.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix were also denied by the excellent Mahammadaliyev.
Line-ups
Portugal
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Lopes
- 20Cancelo
- 3Coutinho Meneses Duarte
- 4Rúben Dias
- 5Nuno Mendes
- 10Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forOliveiraat 88'minutes
- 8João MoutinhoSubstituted forBruno Fernandesat 45'minutesBooked at 81mins
- 18NevesSubstituted forJoão Palhinhaat 88'minutes
- 19NetoSubstituted forFerreira Silvaat 63'minutes
- 9André SilvaSubstituted forJoão Félixat 75'minutes
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 1Sá
- 2Novo Neto
- 6José Fonte
- 11Bruno Fernandes
- 13João Palhinha
- 14Oliveira
- 15Ferreira Silva
- 16Renato Sanches
- 17Jota
- 21Cédric Soares
- 22Dantas da Silva
- 23João Félix
Azerbaijan
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 12Mahammadaliyev
- 5Medvedev
- 15Huseynov
- 14Badalov
- 18Krivotsyuk
- 13HuseynovSubstituted forNurievat 45'minutes
- 6MustafayevSubstituted forIbrahimliat 45'minutes
- 8MahmudovSubstituted forIsaevat 85'minutes
- 3Salahli
- 10EmreliBooked at 52minsSubstituted forAlasgarovat 85'minutes
- 9GhorbaniSubstituted forSeydaevat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Balayev
- 2Taskin
- 4Mustafazade
- 7Nuriev
- 11Seydaev
- 16Isaev
- 17Jafarguliyev
- 19Xalilzade
- 20Ibrahimli
- 21Alasgarov
- 22Yunanov
- 23Dzhenetov
- Referee:
- Daniel Siebert
Match Stats
Home TeamPortugalAway TeamAzerbaijan
- Possession
- Home67%
- Away33%
- Shots
- Home29
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home14
- Away0
- Corners
- Home10
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away11
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Portugal 1, Azerbaijan 0.
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Domingos Duarte (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Anatolii Nuriev (Azerbaijan).
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Attempt saved. João Félix (Portugal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Substitution
Substitution, Portugal. Sérgio Oliveira replaces Bernardo Silva.
Substitution
Substitution, Portugal. João Palhinha replaces Rúben Neves.
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Hand ball by João Félix (Portugal).
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Attempt missed. Rúben Dias (Portugal) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Portugal. Conceded by Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev.
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Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Azerbaijan. Namiq Alasgarov replaces Mahir Emreli.
Substitution
Substitution, Azerbaijan. Ramil Seydaev replaces Ali Ghorbani.
Substitution
Substitution, Azerbaijan. Aleksey Isaev replaces Emin Mahmudov.
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Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ismayil Ibrahimli (Azerbaijan).
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Foul by Bernardo Silva (Portugal).
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Anton Krivotsyuk (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top left corner.
Booking
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) is shown the yellow card.