Portugal 1 - Iceland 1: Minnows shock Cristiano Ronaldo and co on Euro finals debut
IT WAS meant to be all about Cristiano Ronaldo in St Etienne but tiny Iceland – a country with a population the same size as Leicester – turned the tables thanks to a man nicknamed Thor.
Bjirkir Bjarnason's second half strike cancelled out Nani's opener
On a night when Ronaldo equalled Luis Figo's all-time record of 127 caps for Portugal, Iceland, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a major finals, gave everything to grab the headlines away from him.
They recovered superbly from going behind to a first half goal from Nani to equalise through Birkir "Thor" Bjarnason and leave Portugal in a sweat despite dominating possession for much of the game.
For Ronaldo it was a nervy night as Portugal as his Euro dream hung in the balance.
Iceland, population just 330,000, battled back admirably and their breakthrough came after 50 minutes when a superb left-foot cross by Johann Gudmundsson – from the right wing – was expertly guided home by Bjarnason, who plays for FC Basel in Switzerland.
The Icelanders then defended superbly to Portugal at bay.
Portugal: Patricio; Guerreiro, Pepe, Carvalho, Vieirinha; Gomes Danilo, Mario; Moutinho (Sanches 71); Ronaldo, Nani.
Iceland: Halldorsson; Saevarsson; R Sigurdsson. Arnaso, Skulason; A Gunnarson, G Sigurdsson; Gudmundsson, Bjarnason; Sigthorsson, Bodvarsson.