By CAITLIN MURRAY
On a busy international FIFA date, the headlining match seemed to be Argentina vs. Portugal at Old Trafford with the world’s two best players squaring off. Which one would come out on top: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
As it turns out, neither. Scoring the match’s lone goal in stoppage time would be youngster Raphael Guerreiro to secure a very late Portugal 1-0 victory.
With Messi and Ronaldo substituted out at the half following lackluster performances, it was Guerreiro who was left to serve as the match’s difference-maker. The 20-year-old capitalized on perhaps the best chance of the match, a Ricardo Quaresma cross into the box in the 90th minute.
Messi did come close early though, beating an offside trap to knock a through ball on a tight angle, rattling the post in the 11th minute. Ronaldo showed a flash of brilliance with a back-heel flick to Jose Bosingwa followed by a dash into the box to collect Bosingwa’s cross, but Ronaldo’s shot sailed over the crossbar.
Here are the other results from Tuesday’s many international friendlies:
GERMANY SLIPS PAST SPAIN ON STOPPAGE TIME KROOS GOAL
It took the entirety of Tuesday’s match to do it, but Germany eventually edged out a win over Spain, 1-0, with a late goal from Toni Kroos.
For much of the night in Vigo, Spain, it looked like the host may fend off the reigning world champions just a month after the Spaniards suffered a shocking Euro 2016 qualifier loss to Slovakia.
But La Roja continue to look like a squad that is a ways from fully rediscovering their form four months since Spain had their worst-ever World Cup finish. Germany’s Kroos, the Real Madrid midfielder, fired a long-range strike at the end of regulation that skipped off Balaidos Stadium’s wet grass and over substitute goalkeeper Kiko Casilla in his international debut.
A rash of injuries left Germany coach Jogi Loew with just three of the starters that participated in the infamous 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil at this summer’s World Cup.
But Spain had a somewhat experimental squad, too. Coach Vicente del Bosque handed out first caps to a batch of youngsters — Manuel “Nolito” Agudo, Alvaro Morata, Ignacio Camacho and Jose Callejon.
ENGLAND EASES PAST SCOTLAND AS ROONEY NEARS RECORD
Wayne Rooney put himself two goals closer to England’s scoring record, tallying a brace to lift England 3-1 over Scotland in Celtic Park on Tuesday.
Rooney pushed his international goal tally to 46, three shy of England’s record held by Bobby Charlton.
The Manchester United striker scored his first goal in the 47th minute, nodding a close-range header that took a deflection. Five minutes before the end of regulation, Rooney returned to finish a Adam Lallana cross.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got the scoring started for the English, heading in a Jack Wilshere ball in the 32nd minute.
After the Scots were down 2-0, Andy Robertson tried to spark a rally in the 83rd minute, but it wouldn’t be enough on the day. With the win, England hasn’t lost north of the border since 1985.
CAHILL GOAL TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE AGAINST JAPAN
Tim Cahill scored a nice late header for the Australians, but two quick second-half goals from Japan left the Socceroos with little room to catch up, resulting in a 2-1 finish in Osaka.
Yasuyuki Konno headed one home in the 61st minute and, seven minutes later, Shinji Okazaki flicked one in to double Japan’s lead.
The Socceroos looked like the better side for much of Tuesday’s match, but failed to find the back of the net until New York Red Bulls’ Cahill scored one of his signature headers in stoppage time. Australia has never won in Japan.
The friendly serves as a precursor for the Asian Cup, which Australia will host for the first time in January.
ALL OF TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Argentina 0 – 1 Portugal
Spain 0 – 1 Germany
Scotland 1 – 3 England
Japan 2 – 1 Australia
China PR 0 – 0 Honduras
Iran 1 – 0 Korea Republic
Slovakia 2 – 1 Finland
Greece 0 – 2 Serbia
Slovenia 0 – 1 Colombia
Austria 1 – 2 Brazil
Romania 2 – 0 Denmark
Ukraine 0 – 0 Lithuania
Hungary 1 – 2 Russia
Poland 2 – 2 Switzerland
Italy 1 – 0 Albania
France 1 – 0 Sweden
Bolivia 3 – 2 Venezuela
Chile 1 – 2 Uruguay
Peru 2 – 1 Paraguay
Panama 0 – 0 Canada
Belarus 3 – 2 Mexico (RECAP)
Ireland 4 – 1 United States (RECAP | KLINSMANN REACTION | PLAYER REACTION)
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What did you think of Tuesday’s results? Disappointed by the lack of fireworks from Messi vs. Ronaldo? Think Spain can rebuild for Euro 2016? Think Australia can rebound for January’s Asian Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
Canada played to a goalless draw? Color me not surprised.
Peru played really well witb 10 men. Hopefully the coach will continue to put on the youngsters. Go peru!