Cristiano Ronaldo's Son Shines in Portugal U-15 Debut: A 4-1 Victory Over Japan!
Cristiano Jr. Makes His Mark
New Delhi: Cristiano Ronaldo's son, Cristiano dos Santos, made a remarkable debut for the Portugal U-15 National Team, leading them to a 4-1 victory against Japan in the opening match of the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament.
Ronaldo expressed his pride on Instagram, sharing a heartfelt message: "Congratulations on your @portugal debut son. Very proud of you!"
In terms of gameplay, the match started with both teams aggressively pressing each other. However, clear chances were limited until the first goal came midway through the first half. Lourenço Fernandes delivered a brilliant pass to Rafael Cabral, who capitalized on a one-on-one situation to score the opening goal at the 20-minute mark.
Shortly after, in the 22nd minute, Cabral showcased his striking prowess again, receiving the ball in the penalty area, turning past his defender, and scoring to double Portugal's lead.
Japan attempted to respond before halftime, but their efforts were largely thwarted by the Portuguese defense, with only a few threatening moments.
In the second half, Japan increased their attacking efforts, yet Portugal struck again. After Rafael Cabral was fouled in the box, he converted the resulting penalty, completing his hat-trick.
With the score at 3-0, Japan continued to search for a goal but struggled to break through. Portugal introduced more debutants, and one of them, Henrique Amen, scored just minutes after coming on, sealing a dominant performance.
Japan managed to score a consolation goal in injury time through Toa Fujisawa.
This match marked a promising start for the young Portuguese team, showcasing their talent and potential. The Quinas Team will face Greece on May 14 and England on May 16, with their final match scheduled for May 18 against an opponent yet to be determined.