- NEW DELHI — All-time
international top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo's son, Cristiano dos Santos made his
debut for the Portugal U-15 National Team as they defeated Japan 4-1 on Tuesday
in the first match of the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament.
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- Ronaldo took to Instagram to congratulate his son for
following in his footsteps.
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- "Congratulations on your @portugal debut son. Very
proud of you!," posted Ronaldo on Instagram.
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- As for the game, the first few minutes were very
competitive, with both teams looking to press their opponents high up.
Clear-cut opportunities were scarce, although danger occasionally loomed at
both goals.
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- However, the score was broken midway through the first half.
With a great pass, Lourenço Fernandes found Rafael Cabral alone and he,
one-on-one with the opposing goalkeeper, made no mistake and fired a shot to
make it 1-0. Portugal thus took the lead on the scoreboard, with the first
clear opportunity they had (20').
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- We didn't have to wait long to see another change in the
score. Rafael Cabral, in the 22nd minute, once again took on the role of
protagonist of the play and in a different move he once again showed his skills
as a striker. The number 18 received the ball in the penalty area, turned on
his opponent and shot into the back of the Japanese goal. Another great goal
from the Portuguese striker and doubled the advantage in the match.
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- Until the end of the first half, Japan pushed up the lines
and controlled the Portuguese team's quick attacks well. Even so, André
Marques' goal was not threatened very often, nor with much danger, with the
most notable move being a dangerous cross that almost deceived the Portuguese
goalkeeper.
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- In the second half, Japan tried to target the Portuguese
goal more often, but the Portuguese goalkeeper was getting the job done.
However, it was the Portuguese team that scored. Rafael Cabral fell in the
area, the referee awarded a penalty and the number 18 converted it, in a truly
dream afternoon for the young Portuguese international, who thus completed the
hat-trick.
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- With the score at 3-0, Japan accepted the defeat without
ever stopping to look for the Portuguese goal. Portugal was already managing
and promoting more debutants in the team, and one of these debutants would even
score the fourth Portuguese goal. Henrique Amen, who came on in the 72nd
minute, scored his first goal in the same minute as his debut, a true dream
start for the young athlete. A shot that crowned an excellent quick transition
by Joao Santos' team and gave the match the contours of a rout.
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- Until the end of the match, Japan, already in injury time,
managed to reduce the deficit through Toa Fujisawa.
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- Vlatko Markovic made his international tournament debut,
with moments of great brilliance and maturity from the youngest team in the
National Teams, on a morning marked by many debuts.
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- The Quinas Team will play three more matches in this
competition against Greece (May 14) and England (May 16). The fourth and final
match will take place on May 18, with the opponent yet to be defined.
