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Portugal Wins 3-1 Against Turkey in FIFA World Cup Playoff Semi
Portugal Stays Alive in Bid to Qualify for Qatar
Turkey Pushed Portugal En Route to Semi Loss
Portugal fought off a persistent Turkey side to win 3-1 in their UEFA World Cup playoff semi, maintaining their hopes of qualifying for the tournament in Qatar. The victory came after a tense battle between the two teams, with Turkey pushing Portugal hard throughout the match.
The match was played on June 22, 2023, at the Estadio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo put Portugal ahead in the 15th minute, latching onto a through ball from Bruno Fernandes. Turkey equalized in the 27th minute through Cengiz Ünder, who capitalized on a defensive error by Portugal.
Portugal regained the lead in the 57th minute, with Fernandes scoring a stunning goal from outside the box. The goal proved to be the winner, with João Moutinho adding a third goal for Portugal in the 89th minute.
The victory was a significant one for Portugal, who are seeking to qualify for their seventh World Cup. They will now face either Italy or North Macedonia in the playoff final, with the winner securing a place in Qatar.
Turkey, on the other hand, saw their hopes of reaching the World Cup come to an end. They have now lost all four of their games against Portugal at the European Championship, with an aggregate score of 8-0.
The match was closely contested throughout, with both sides creating chances to score. Portugal had the better of the possession and created more chances, but Turkey were dangerous on the counterattack. In the end, it was Portugal's quality that proved to be the difference.
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