ZCZC
BSP-04
FBL-WC-2022-EUR-SRB-POR
Portugal coach says ‘not possible’ Ronaldo goal ruled out
BELGRADE, March 28, 2021 (AFP) – Portugal coach Fernando Santos said “it
isn’t possible” that what he saw as a clear goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo
in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia could be ruled out.
With the scores level at 2-2 in Belgrade, Ronaldo thought he had won the
game in the 93rd minute when he slotted the ball home.
However, without VAR or goalline technology in use, officials decided that
Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic had cleared the ball before it crossed the
line even though images appeared to show the goal should have stood.
“We scored a goal that was not given when the ball went in,” Santos told
Portuguese broadcaster RTP.
“In a match of this level, that isn’t possible.”
The match had started brightly for the Portuguese with two first-half
headers from Diogo Jota that gave the away side a commanding lead at the
break.
However Aleksandar Mitrovic pulled one back for the hosts seconds after the
restart and Filip Kostic levelled the scores on the hour mark when he
collected Nemanja Radonjic’s through ball and slotted home a smart finish.
Nikola Milenkovic was sent off a minute into added time before the key
moment of the match denied Ronaldo a last-gasp winner.
Portugal midfielder Danilo Pereira was equally dumbfounded at the decision
to not award the goal.
“We tried to get a third goal and we managed to do it but the referee
didn’t allow it although in my opinion it was clearly a goal,” he said.
“In any case, we can’t afford to be two goals ahead and then get pegged
back.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/0848 hrs
Bottom of Form