Francisco Conceicao proved the hero on his first competitive appearance 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 loose ball 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 strike, though Conceicao pounced from Pedro Neto's half-cleared 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.
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.
'Very proud' Belgium stunned by fans' fury after setting up France clash
Belgium's players were surprised, confused and disappointed by the response of their supporters after scraping into the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a goalless draw against Ukraine on Wednesday.
The Red Devils needed only a point from their final Group E match to be sure of a place in the knockout stage, but they could have topped the group with a win.
Instead, having been held by Ukraine in another toothless display, Belgium will have to face France in the next round, thrust into what is widely considered the tougher half of the draw.
Despite those permutations, Belgium opted to protect their point in the closing stages, rather than chase a winner.
So, when the final whistle sounded, the travelling Belgian fans jeered their players instead of joining in the celebrations.
Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgium captain, directed his team-mates back to the dressing room, and the players described their shock to the Belgian media.
"We are qualified and very proud as a group," said Yannick Carrasco. "As a group, we do not understand the reaction of the fans. We find that disappointing.
"We decided together to go to the dressing room, because we don't think the whistling is normal. You cannot forget where Belgium comes from, and now we participate in every tournament."
Jan Vertonghen added: "I was one of the first to go to the fans, because I was genuinely happy with the qualification and wanted to greet them.
"Yes, there is disappointment because we didn't win, but being booed after we qualified... it's the first time I've experienced that.
"De Bruyne then decided to return to the dressing room and go in together. I understand that. He's the captain and can make that decision."
Head coach Domenico Tedesco weighed in, saying: "I am surprised. All that mattered was qualifying.
"We lost the first match, so the conditions were not easy. And after our win against Romania, everyone was happy.
"My players do not understand that we are now being whistled at. This was a difficult opponent. We did everything we could to score. But hey, we have to accept this."
De Bruyne skirted around the issue in his own interview with broadcasters, but he defended Belgium's approach.
"If we go all out for a goal and we lose, what then? You can do that and concede a goal like against England [in March's friendly]," he said.
"France are now waiting. We have to recover well and go all out for that match. We are underdogs there. But if you want to win a European Championship, you have to beat everyone, and now it is France."
Morgan left out of Hayes' Team USA Olympics squad
Alex Morgan has been left out of the United States Paris Olympics squad ahead of the games in July.
Morgan, who has scored 123 goals in 224 appearances for her country, has appeared at every Olympics for Team USA since Beijing 2008 and won gold at London 2012.
The two-time World Cup winner has not scored in her past eight games for San Diego Wave after recently recovering from an ankle injury.
"Today, I'm disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent my country on the Olympic stage," posted Morgan on social media. "This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride an time I put on the crest.
"In less than a month I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country."
Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes will take charge of her first tournament as the USA manager, and has opted for Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson as her main forward options.
"It was a tough decision, especially considering Alex's history and record with this team, but I felt I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players," Hayes said.
Women's football in Paris begins on 25 July, with the gold-medal match taking place on August 10.
The United States, who won bronze at Tokyo 2020, are drawn in Group B where they will face Zambia, Germany and Australia.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
