Francisco Conceicao proved the hero on his first competitive start for Portugal after his stoppage-time winner snatched a 2-1 victory over Czechia in their Euro 2024 opener.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in the European Championship's 64-year history to appear in six editions, but his landmark moment was overshadowed by a glimpse into Portugal's future.
Conceicao was introduced after 90 minutes and scored just two minutes later, capitalising on a rebound to send Portugal level on points with leaders Turkiye, who beat Georgia 3-1 earlier on Tuesday in Group F.
Robin Hranac's unavoidable own-goal had earlier cancelled out Lukas Provod's rocketed second-half opener before Conceicao announced himself on the international stage at the Leipzig Stadium.
Roberto Martinez's team were the only side to win every qualifying game for this tournament, with a perfect 10 wins from as many matches, and dominated the first half of their opener without reward.
Ronaldo almost marked his landmark appearance with a goal just eight minutes in but rushed an unmarked header in uncharacteristic fashion from Rafael Leao's whipped cross.
Bruno Fernandes angled a deflected long-range effort narrowly over as the one-way traffic persisted, before the Manchester United midfielder's teasing ball just evaded the lunging Leao.
Fernandes was again the architect when his delicate throughball found Ronaldo, who was denied by Jindrich Stanek's fantastic stop from point-blank range.
The Czechia goalkeeper was on hand once more before the interval, parrying away another fizzing Ronaldo strike as these two sides were the first to be goalless at half-time at Euro 2024.
Portugal completed 368 passes in that first-half onslaught, their most on record in a single half at the European Championships since records began in 1980, and little changed after the break.
Ronaldo tested the hands of Stanek with a dipping free-kick just before the hour, though Portugal were stunned soon after when Provod cannoned into the top-left corner from the perimeter of Diogo Costa's area.
Yet a response swiftly followed as Stanek parried Leao's downwards back-post header against Hranac, who could only deflect into his own net to level proceedings.
Diogo Jota had a late finish ruled out by VAR after Ronaldo was adjudged offside before his rebounded finish, though Conceicao pounced from Pedro Neto's left-wing cross to snatch all three points.
Substitute heroics save Ronaldo's landmark appearance
Ronaldo already holds the record for the most appearances in European Championship history (26), though this outing marked another historic moment for the 39-year-old.
Having featured at every Euros since his 2004 debut, Ronaldo is the first to go to six editions of the tournament, where his 14 goals make him the leading scorer in history.
The former Manchester United attacker could not add to his tally here, and it was a familiar tale at the Euros for Ronaldo, who missed the 2016 final victory over France after his gut-wrenching injury.
Eder stepped up as the extra-time hero on that occasion, and he was the last Portugal substitute to score at the Euros before Conceicao did so here.
Conceicao's goal came just 111 seconds after being introduced and marks the fastest such goal since Ferran Torres for Spain against Slovakia in June 2021 (41 seconds) – what an introduction for the Porto man.
Czech need more from Schick
Patrik Schick scored five of Czechia's six goals at Euro 2020, becoming only the second Czech player to be the sole or joint-top scorer at a European Championship tournament – after Milan Baros at the 2004 edition (five goals).
The forward has since lifted the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen last term, helping Xabi Alonso's side to an unbeaten league season with seven top-flight goals.
Considering his record at the Euros and the 2023-24 trophy-winning campaign, Czechia may want more from their star striker – who was withdrawn on the hour after being cautioned and failing to manage a single shot.
Yet with or without Schick, Czechia could have never prepared for Conceicao's late intervention. Ivan Hasek's side have now lost five straight games against Portugal and must bounce back when they face Georgia on Saturday.
Czechia 1-2 Turkiye: Late Tosun winner makes sure of last-16 place
Cenk Tosun's late strike made sure of Turkiye's date with Austria in the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after finishing second in Group F following their 2-1 win over 10-man Czechia.
Hakan Calhanoglu's first major tournament goal gave Vincenzo Montella's men the lead after Antonin Barak saw red early on, only for Tomas Soucek to respond for a Czechia side who needed all three points.
But substitute Tosun would have the final say, firing into the bottom corner in the 94th minute, with ugly scenes following the full-time whistle as Tomas Chory also saw red after a feisty encounter in Hamburg.
Czechia finished bottom of the group as Georgia advanced following their 2-0 win over Portugal in Gelsenkirchen.
The opening exchanges saw both sides start nervously, and perhaps the key moment came in the 19th minute when Barak, who had been shown a yellow card nine minutes earlier, was given his marching orders after a late challenge on Salih Ozcan.
Despite Turkiye's man advantage, Czechia's rearguard action restricted them to very little, with the first half ending with more bookings than shots on target.
However, Montella's side came out firing after the break, with their fast start rewarded as Calhanoglu rifled home moments after seeing Kenan Yildiz denied by Jindrich Stanek.
That joy was short-lived as Soucek fired Czechia level, with Mert Gunok's appeals for a foul by Chory in the build-up dismissed following a VAR review.
Turkiye were still on course for the last 16 with a draw, though, and Tosun made sure after his introduction from the bench, smashing beyond substitute goalkeeper Matej Kovar in the closing seconds.
Data Debrief: Tosun sparks Turkish delight in Hamburg
Tosun, sent on with 15 minutes to play, had only four touches, but the telling one in stoppage time put the final stamp on Turkiye's passage to the last 16.
The win for Turkiye saw them progress from the group stage at the Euros for the first time since 2008, having previously been eliminated in the 2016 and 2020 editions.
Suspended: JFF drops anchor on selection of controversial winger Leon Bailey
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has suspended the selection of Leon Bailey to the senior men’s national team.
JFF, in a release on Wednesday, said the decision was made following recent incidents, including the Aston Villa winger’s decision not to participate in the Copa America 2024 team after being selected.
The country’s governing football body added that it also considered Bailey’s previous announcement that he wanted to take a break from his national duties as a reason to suspend his selection, as this move would ultimately guard against any further miscommunication.
“The JFF values the contributions of all players and respects their individual decisions regarding national team participation,” the release stated.
Additionally, the JFF revealed that the matter has been referred to David Watt, the newly appointed Chairman of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.
Georgia 2-0 Portugal: Crusaders crash landmark Ronaldo outing to make last 16
Georges Mikautadze stole the show with a goal and an assist to send Georgia into the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a 2-0 upset against Portugal, tarnishing a landmark appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal captain Ronaldo became the first European player to make 50 appearances across the World Cup and Euros on Wednesday, but this Group F meeting belonged to Georgia.
Mikautadze teed up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's second-minute opener in Gelsenkirchen before himself coolly converting a penalty after the break, sealing Georgia's first ever win at a major tournament.
Willy Sagnol's side will be rewarded with a last-16 meeting with Spain on Sunday, while Portugal must improve for Monday's clash with Slovenia in Frankfurt.
Roberto Martinez's men were stunned almost immediately when Mikautadze slipped Kvaratskhelia through to hammer into the bottom-right corner with a left-footed drive.
Timed at just one minute and 32 seconds, that was the quickest goal Portugal have ever conceded at the Euros, and Martinez's side were slow to respond.
Ronaldo tested Giorgi Mamardashvili's hands with a thunderous long-range free-kick, while Francisco Conceicao angled wide from a tight angle and Joao Felix fired an optimistic effort over.
Yet Georgia went close to doubling their lead as Kvaratskhelia's inviting free-kick narrowly evaded Giorgi Gvelesiani, before Joao Felix's fizzing effort was held by Mamardashvili at the other end.
Ronaldo was thwarted at point-blank range shortly after half-time as Lasha Dvali produced a heroic diving block to deflect over from a prone position inside Georgia's six-yard box.
Kvaratskhelia rushed a glorious chance near the penalty spot moments later and swiped at thin air, but Antonio Silva's clumsy hack on Luka Lochoshvili allowed Georgia to extend their advantage.
Referee Sandro Scharer pointed to the spot after the VAR recommended an on-field review, and Mikautadze had no problem slotting past Diogo Costa's reach into the bottom-right corner after 57 minutes.
A frustrated Ronaldo was substituted with over 20 minutes to play before Nelson Semedo and Conceicao went close in the dying stages of an unexpected defeat, as Portugal limped into the knockout rounds.
Magic Mikautadze makes Georgian history
Remarkably, Mikautadze now leads the Euro 2024 scoring charts after finding the net in each of his opening three games in Germany.
Mikautadze is the ninth player to score in all three group matches at a single Euros, joining the likes of Michel Platini (1984), Ruud van Nistelrooy (2004) and Portugal's own Ronaldo (2021).
The omens for the rest of the tournament are positive, too, considering Georgia are just the second European side, after Greece in 2004, to claim their first win at the World Cup or Euros against Portugal.
Greece were 2-1 victors in the opening match 20 years ago against hosts Portugal before taking home the title by defeating the Selecao again in the final.
Concerns for Martinez
Much has been made of Portugal's star-studded attack, with Martinez boasting the likes of the record-breaking Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and dazzling Milan winger Rafael Leao.
Yet there are defensive issues that need arresting before the knockout stage begins.
Portugal have conceded the opening goal in two of their three group-stage matches at the Euros for just the second time, with Euro 2012 the other instance.
This defeat also marked Portugal's joint-heaviest Euros loss, alongside their 4-2 reverse against Germany at Euro 2020 and a 2-0 surprise upset against Switzerland in 2008.
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