João Mário has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Gelson Martins.
Assist Gelson Dany Batalha Martins
GOAL! João Mário puts the game to bed with his first goal for his country! A fabulous strike from just outside the area outlining his side's superior quality all through this contest. A deft touch from João Mário settled him before rifling his shot into the bottom left corner.
89'
Andre Silva fashions a chance for himself at the back post with some quick thinking from a free kick launched into the box. However, his cushioned header looking for Martins is of the perfect trajectory for Al Owais to collect.
87'
Bruma with a disappointing cross in a dangerous position as Portugal look for a third to put some gloss on their dominant performance.
85'
Martins is popping up left, right and centre. His trickery around the 18-yard box continues to impress as he lays it off for Ricardo to whip a ball into the box. The Porto defenders cross is slightly over hit and Martins is unable to arch his neck enough to direct his header goalward.
83'
Al Mowalad continues Bauza's side's best spell of the game as he tries his luck from 30 yards. Lyon keeper Lopes does well to rush out and collect the deflected shot at the feet of Aseri.
82'
Mohanad Aseri was lurking there inside the Portuguese area but it's hacked clear before the subsitute could score against the run of play.
80'
Waleed Bakshwn enters the game and replaces Abdulmalek Al Khaibri.
Noah Al Mousa enters the game and replaces Abdullah Otayf.
Substitution: Abdullah Otayf makes way for Nouh Al mousa of Al Fateh.
Substitution Abdulmalek Abdullah Al Khaibri Waleed Rashid Bakshween
78'
This is becoming an onslaught on Al Owais goal who deserves some kind of accolade for his goalkeeping efforts this evening. Joao Mario's powerful half-volley is well held by the keeper following a frantic spell inside the Saudi box.
76'
Yet another corner is wasted by the hosts but the hoisted goal kick only finds the disco-like feet of Martins on the right. He dances into the area, losing the ball when it should really have been squared for his waiting teammates.
75'
Rúben Neves enters the game and replaces Danilo Pereira.
Bruma enters the game and replaces Gonçalo Guedes.
Substitution: Danilo Pereira is replaced by Wolves midfielder Rúben Neves.
Substitution: The Saudi defence will be pleased to see the back of Guedes, he comes off for Armindo Tué Na Bangna.
Minute
Description
73'
Missing a couple of key players, including their main goal-getter, Saudi have lacked a focal point up front and their lumped free kick falls straight back into Portuguese possession.
71'
SLOPPY: A loose ball in the middle of the park allows Portugal to break but the Saudi's are given a reprieve by the Romanian assistant referee.
70'
Mohanad Aseri enters the game and replaces Hazza Al Hazza.
Saeed Al Muwallad enters the game and replaces Mohammed Al Burayk.
Substitution Mohammed Al Burayk Saeed Fawaz Al Mowalad
Substitution: Forward Hazzaa Al Hazzaa, with one sight of goal as he headed over, is replaced by Mohanad Aseri.
68'
Saudi Arabia enjoy their longest settled spell of possession of the game but the ball again finds its way over to the pacey Ricardo at right wing-back who is well marshalled off the ball as he looked to get another ball into the box.
66'
Santos' men are certainly worthy of their two-goal lead as the home crowd whistle at Saudi keeper Al Owais in an attempt to try and negate some early time-wasting tactics.
65'
Salman Al Muwashar enters the game and replaces Salem Al Dawsari.
Substitution Salem Mohammed Al Dawsari Salman Al Moasher
62'
The Saudi team are camped inside their own half as the fresh legs of the Portuguese substitutes pick through them at will. Some calm defending from Al Burayk restores order and gives the visitors the chance to make a personel change for themselves.
59'
Gelson Martins is looking to make an instant impact here as his effort flashes wide before his fellow substitute Bruno Fernandes sees his dipping shot pushed wide by Al Owais.
56'
Gelson Martins enters the game and replaces Bernardo Silva.
Bruno Fernandes enters the game and replaces Manuel Fernandes.
Edgar Ié enters the game and replaces Pepe.
Substitution Bernardo Silva comes off for Gelson Martins in the first of three changes to be made by manager Santos.
Substitution: Pepe, given a yellow card in the first half, is repladed by Edgar Ié to complete the three changes.
Substitution: Fernandes leaves to a warm applause from the home fans following a good performance, his namesake Bruno Fernandes takes his place.
55'
A half chance for the visitors as the in-form Hazzaa Al Hazzaa flicks a header over the bar eight yards from goal.
52'
Gonçalo Guedes has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Ricardo Pereira.
Assist Ricardo Domingos Barbosa Pereira
GOAL! Guedes gets the goal that his performance deserves. Subsitute Ricardo Perreira was integral to the build up as he linked with Silva on the right before Guedes powered into the box, firing home low to the left of Al Owais.
51'
Taisir Al Jassim enters the game and replaces Yahia Al Shehri.
Substitution: 123rd cap for the experienced Taisir Al Jassim as he enters the action in place of Al Shehri.
50'
Another chance goes begging for the hosts as Silva fluffs his lines at the near post. Saudi Arabia, looking to make Portugal pay for this flurry of missed opportunities, break only to see possession fall back into the hands of Portuguese enforcer Fernandes.
48'
Guedes and Mario combined expertly well on the left wing before the former agonosingly sees his shot-cum-cross trickle across the face of goal without a fellow striker to stab it home.
46'
Ricardo Pereira enters the game and replaces João Cancelo.
Substitution: A like for like swap as João Cancelo is replaced by Ricardo Domingos Barbosa Pereira.
With the first change of this friendly international already implemented at half time, Portugal get us underway in the second half.
45'
Yasir Al Shahrani with a vital intervention to deny Portugal a second on the stroke of half time, his diving clearance concedes a corner, which then sees Guedes try his luck from long range to no effect.
43'
Bernardo Silva has been zipping the ball across a wall of Saudi defenders all night long looking to find that elusive through ball for Andre Silva, the figurehead of the Portugal attack. So far, the visitors have resisted reasonably well considering the one-sided nature of the match so far.
41'
Salem Al Dawsari gets yellow.
Yellow card: Salem Mohammed Al Dawsari into the referee's notebook for a desparate challenge on the edge of the box. Fernandes is the man trusted with free kick duty in the absence of Ronaldo.
38'
Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario has really caused the Saudi defence some problems tonight. Twisting and turning on the right wing before the ball is worked across to the centre for Joao Cancelo's long range shot to be cleared.
35'
Portugal are looking for a quick second with another string of corners. Little sign of a reprieve for Saudi Arabia despite their tenacious pressing.
32'
Manuel Fernandes has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Gonçalo Guedes.
Assist Gonçalo Manuel Ganchinho Guedes
GOAL! Has Fernandes just forced his way into his manager's plans for Russia 2018? He shows a composed and controlled finish to finally beat Al Owais in the Saudi goal following some neat wing play from Guedes, teasing his defender before setting up Fernandes 15 yards from goal.
31'
Impressive defending from Mohammed Al Burayk of Al Hilal denies Portugal a certain opener as he blocks a Fernandes shot.
29'
While Portugal have dominated the first half hour in the North of the country, they are yet to fire a meaningful effort to sting the palms of Al Owais.
26'
Danilo showing their why he only has one goal to his name for Portugal with a highly disappointing effort way over the crossbar.
24'
Pepe gets yellow.
Yellow card: Pepe is booked as he comes through the back of Osama Hawsawi, failing to get any connection on the ball. Ironic cheers from his own suporters in the stands as Pepe sees yellow yet again.
23'
Motaz Hawsawi is cynically brought down by Andre Silva as he looked to break down the right. Silva is possibly lucky to escape a yellow card there as Saudi Arabia find a footing in the game.
21'
First bit of business for Anthony Lopes to take care of as the Lyon keeper collects the deflected shot of Yehya Al Shehri following a dangerous looking Saudi break. After a first 20 minutes pinned in their own half, perhaps a glimmer of hope for the visitors.
18'
Guedes did fabulously well to break the offside trap but stumbled at the pivotal moment as he found himself one-on-one with Saudi keeper Al Owais. Another let off!
16'
Santos' men really need to make their visitors pay for some lax defending as Danilo storms to the byline but clumsily fluffs his lines as he failed to put in a suitable cross.
14'
CHANCE: If you have the confidence to take the shirt number of Ronaldo, you should really be finishing opportunities like that. Guedes in acres of space at the back post from a corner turns his instinctive shot wide of the post.
12'
With a rare Saudi Arabia break failing to trouble the home side's backline too much, Portugal have another spell of dominance through a spell of continuous corners.
9'
It seems as though a Portugal opener is only a matter of time this evening as Fernandes again finds space inside the Saudi box but it's well cleared. Saudi, in their all white kit, have agreed to take part in this friendly to help raise funds and awareness for recent forest fires accross Portugal.
7'
Former Everton midfielder Manuel Fernandes fails with his effort at goal before Joao Mario's wicked strike deflects onto the post. The resultant corner is cleared to give the visitors some restbite.
5'
It's been an opening five minutes of portuguese domination for the hosts with Manchester City's Bernardo Silva pulling the strings in midfield. His through ball to Andre Silva is adjudged offside as the striker had rounded the keeper.
2'
Santos' have a bright start to the delight of their fans. A free kick on the edge of the box is cleared only as far as Danilo Pereira whose loft into the box only finds the hands of Saudi keeper Mohammed Al Owais.
1'
We're underway in Viseu.
He's been absent from the national team for a lengthy five-and-a-half years but has Fernandes put himself in his manager's plans for Russia 2018? A controlled and composed finish inside the near post gives his side the lead following neat wing play for Guedes, teasing his full back before picking out Fernandes 15 yards from goal.
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE text commentary for this international friendly between Portugal and Saudi Arabia at the Estadio Municipal do Fontelo.
Portugal XI (4-3-3): Anthony Lopes; Pepe, Luis Neto, Kevin Rodrigues, Joao Cancelo; Manuel Fernandes, Goncalo Guedes, Danilo Pereira; Bernardo Silva, Joao Mario, Andre Silva.
Saudi Arabia forged their path to Russia 2018 with an impressive victory over Japan in their final group game. Fahad Al Muwallad grabbed the decisive goal, forcing Group B rivals Australia into a tricky play-off against Honduras.
Saudi Arabia XI (4-5-1): Mohammed Al Owais; Osama Hawsawi, Yasir Al Shahrani, Omar Hawsawi, Mohammed Al Burayk; Motaz Hawsawi, Abdulmalek Al Khaibri, Yehya Al Shehri, Salem Al Dawsari, Abdullah Otayf; Hazzaa Al Hazzaa.
Portugal substitutes: Ricardo Pereira, Gelson Martins, Jose Sa, Bruno Fernandes, Goncalo Paciencia, Ricardo Ferreia, Edgar Le, Nelson Semedo, Ruben Neves, Antunes, Beto, Bruma, Rony Lopes.
Saudi Arabia substitutes: Tasir Al Jassim, Mohammed Al Fatil, Salman Al Moasher, Mohammed Khubrani, Nouh Al Mousa, Abdulmajeed Al Sulaiheem, Mohanad Aseri, Mukhtar Fallateh, Saeed Al Mowalad, Abdullah Al Maiouf, Waleed Abdullah, Mansour Al Harbi.
Fernando Santos' side have won seven of their last eight matches, losing only to Chile in the Confederations Cup. Qualifying in dramatic fashion by pipping Switzerland to the post on goal difference, they will see two home friendlies in a matter of days as prime preparation.
The national anthems are being belted out in Viseu as we prepare for this international friendly between Portugal and Saudi Arabia. A much-changed line-up from the European Champions sees Goncalo Guedes take the number seven shirt from absentee Cristiano Ronaldo. Saudi Arabia boss Edgardo Bauza is a former Argentina national team manager.
HALF TIME: This Viseu crowd have witnessed almost a training session of game with the Saudi defence being breeched on just the one occasion so far. Fernandes grabbed his third international goal with a calm side-footed finished just inside the post on 32 minutes following some fine wingplay from the lively Guedes.
In truth Saudi boss Bauza may be reluctantly pleased to see his side only one goal down at the break. Al Shehri's deflected effort was comfortably saved prior to Fernandes' opener, with the Al Nassr man being the only man to trouble Lopes' goal.
We're likely to see a raft of changes in the second half. Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves sits on the Portuguese bench alongside Rony Lopes of Monaco. Bauza could perhaps call upon substitute options such as Mohanad Aseri of Al Ahli or recent Al Hilal signing Mukhtar Fallateh should he wish to freshen things up.
FULL TIME: João Mário seals off a 3-0 victory for his Portuguese side with probably the best piece of quality in the match. Working alongside Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and a lively Guedes, João Mário was influential throughout as the European Champions picked their Saudi opponents apart.
Right back Ricardo and fellow substitute (there were a lot of them) Martins shone brightest from the bench and will be pushing for a start in Portugal's next friendly fixture as they host USA on Tuesday, another fixture to pay homage to recent forest fires in the region.
Saudi Arabia boss Bauza can take heart from his side's resolute nature, keeping the scoreline respectable with some last-ditch defending. They enjoyed some success on the break with Aseri and Al Shehri firing at goal in anger without managing to put Lopes under any real pressure. Their next step in preparation for Russia 2018 is a trip to Bulgaria on Monday.
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