Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal downed Uruguay in their Group H clash at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, booking a place in the knockouts with a game to spare. However, after the opening 45 minutes went goalless, it looked like the fans were going to be served with another conservative stalemate. But Portugal turned the game on its head in the second half, as they headed out of the tunnel with a Round of 16 ticket on their minds.
Two goals from Bruno Fernandes sealed the win for Portugal, who also resisted the late pressure from the Uruguayans. However, the Manchester United midfielder’s first strike was much debated so as to who exactly scored it. Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to claim the goal, as it appeared he got his head to the end of the attempted cross from Fernandes. But match officials credited the midfielder with the goal, who even admitted after the game that it was the forward who touched the ball. Now, Ronaldo’s close friend Piers Morgan too has supported Bruno’s claims.
Morgan reveals Cristiano Ronaldo texted him from the dressing room
Cristiano Ronaldo and Piers Morgan have developed a close friendship, ever since the British broadcaster interviewed the former Man United player. Ronaldo went berserk against the Red Devils, slamming the club’s owners, manager Erik ten Hag, and even some ex-players and managers. He accused United of “betraying” him, and Ten Hag of “not respecting him”. This interview with Morgan was nail in the coffin for Ronaldo’s association with United, as days before Portugal’s World Cup opener, the two parties announced a mutual contract termination.
It was being speculated that the situation has escalated out of hand, and whether this will affect Ronaldo and his World Cup preparations. A tiff between him and Bruno was also rumoured, after the midfielder appeared to give his now former club mate a cold handshake on meeting him in the Portugal camp in Qatar. Although he rubbished the reports, the Portugal team was all served with Ronaldo questions only throughout their pre-match pressers. But the 37-year-old forward silenced all of them, netting a goal against Ghana helping his side to a 3-2 win.
Ronaldo appeared to continue his scoring form against Uruguay, when he apparently headed in from Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the 54th minute. With doubts on whether he touched the ball or not, the former Real Madrid forward celebrated the goal in ‘Alan Shearer’ style, raising his pointed hand to claim the goal. The match officials too initially awarded the strike to Ronaldo, but later chalked-off his name and Bruno was given the bragging rights.
However, both Bruno and Morgan claim that Ronaldo did touch the ball before it went in and he deserved his second goal at the tournament. Replying to a comment from Specsavers, a British optical retail chain, who stated that ‘It was Bruno’ who scored, Morgan revealed:
“Ronaldo confirmed to me that his head touched the ball. Even Bruno agrees.”
While his claim of his close friend Ronaldo netting the opening goal can be debated, Bruno agreeing that it was indeed his captain’s goal was spot on. The United midfielder, who is playing in his second World Cup finals, explained after the game:
“I don’t really think it matters who scored. The feeling at the time was that he [Ronaldo] touched the ball — I was crossing it to him — but what’s important was we moved into the next round and beat a very big opponent.”
Bruno then went on to score a clear goal, from a spot kick in the injury time as Ronaldo was taken-off by the Portugal manager. He ended the night with two goals to his name, but more importantly, as he outlined Portugal’s progress to the knockouts was sealed. They now have to play South Korea in their penultimate group stage game, which should be a mere formality for them as coach Fernando Santos will now eye some rotations, resting his key-players.