In their latest UEFA European Championship qualifier, Portugal beat Serbia 2-1 without Cristiano Ronaldo being on the score sheet! It was thanks to goals from Ricardo Carvalho and Fábio Coentrão that saw the home side move top of the group, leapfrogging Denmark who did not play.
Serbia put out a strong side with five English Premier League players in their startling line-up: Ivanovic and Matic (Chelsea), Kolarov (Manchester City), Markovic (Liverpool) and Tadic (Southampton).
Carvalho opened Portugal’s account after just ten minutes when he headed home Fábio Coentrão’s cross. Carvalho pulled up injured minutes later to be replaced by Southampton captain José Fonte.
A wonder goal from Serbia’s Matic levelled matters in the second-half, but only for a couple of minutes as ‘man-of-the-match’ Fábio Coentrão netted the winning goal after a great through ball from Moutinho. Portugal’s next game is away to Armenia on June 13.
