Portugal vs Uzbekistan LIVE: Latest World Cup score and updates as Cristiano Ronaldo silences critics with early goal – UK Times

34’ – Uzbekistan are looking a bit more eager to push on now. And Portugal can be got at – the DR Congo draw proved that.

Unhinged defending from Portugal, who had plenty of opportunity to pass the ball back to Diogo Costa in goal but tried to play their way out of trouble. They’re lucky to get away with it.

29’ – Uzbekistan think they have scored… Ganiev sends a piledriver into the top left corner from about 22 yards. But, hold on, Cancelo is fuming, insisting that he was fouled in the build-up by Fayzullaev.

He was. The VAR takes a look and no goal is given. It’s unfortunate for Uzbekistan but the right call. Cannavaro, arms folded, smiles and shakes his head.

The hydration break momentum switch happens again though.

28’ – Uzbekistan have at least put together a string of passes in the Portugal half – something that did not happen in the first quarter. They cannot progress into shooting territory but it is better than what has gone before.

26’ – We’re back underway. Portugal will be hoping momentum doesn’t shift. To make the match interesting, we could badly do with one.

23’ – Fernandes sends in a free kick from the left that causes yet more consternation for Cannavaro’s side.

It is eventually cleared and that leads to the hydration break. The resepective team talks that are about to take place will hardly be more different.

Ronaldo’s sheer existence was enough to trick Uzbekistan there. His aura gets an assist.

20’ – Cannavaro looks rather dismayed on the touchline, watching his team being picked apart so easily. Their identity is built on being defensively solid. So far here they have been anything but.

Mendes continues to cause havoc, bringing a foul out of Karimov.

After a daft delay where the referee is trying to sort out the walls – both teams have formed one – Mendes takes the free kick instead with Ronaldo fooling everyone as a decoy and it sails into the bottom left corner. That is very, very smart and Portugal could be about to put up a cricket score.

13’ – This has been a big struggle for Uzbekistan so far.

Khamrobekov chops Neto down just outside the box, earning himself a yellow card and gifting Portugal a free kick in a spot half their team will feel confident of scoring from.