On the night where the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the grand stage of European football, it was 21-year-old Francisco Conceicao that stole the headlines for Portugal.
The Porto sensation came on with the scores level at 1-1 to score a stoppage time winner as his country dug deep to secure all three points in their Euro 2024 opener against Czechia in Leipzig on Tuesday.
Portugal kept nearly 75 percent of the ball but failed to find the back of the net in the first half.
Shortly after the hour mark, the Czechs went ahead through Lukas Provod, with the goal coming off their only attempt on target.
Seven minutes later, a lifeline would arrive as Robin Hranac found the back of his own net to level matters.
In his record extending sixth Euro finals, Ronaldo was denied thrice by Slavia Prague goalkeeper Jindřich Stanek. He was later ruled offside in the build-up to a Diogo Jota goal which VAR would overturn.
The Portugal skipper is the top scorer in the tournament’s history; and with seconds to play, he was clearly delighted to see Conceicao beating the goalkeeper, as his side snatched all three points.
The Porto winger scored just 111 seconds after coming on, becoming the first Portugal player to score as a substitute at the Euros since Eder in their 2016 championship winning campaign.
Francisco is the son of former Porto boss and Portugal international Sergio Conceicao, who scored a famous hat-trick against Germany at Euro 2000.
His son’s goal in Germany will be quite memorable too, especially if Roberto Martinez’s side are to kick-on from their opening game victory.
Portugal next face Turkey in Dortmund on Saturday.
Pictured above: Francisco Conceicao
Image source: @infoazulebranca
