Spain 1-1 Portugal: Late Horta strike snatches draw in Nations League opener

Spain
were
defeated
in
the
final
by
France
in
last
year’s
competition,
but
entered
the
2022
edition
after
four
straight
wins.

Morata
fired
Spain
into
a
first-half
lead
as
he
became
the
joint-seventh
highest
scorer
in
La
Roja’s
history
with
his
26th
strike
in
all
competitions.

Portugal
offered
little
in
response
until
Horta
popped
up
with
eight
minutes
remaining
to
steal
a
draw
in
the
Group
A2
opener.

26
–
Álvaro
Morata
has
scored
26
goals
in
53
appearances
for
Spain
in
all
competitions,
becoming
the
joint-seventh
highest
scorer
in
the
nation’s
history
alongside
Emilio
Butragueño
(26
goals
in
69
apps).
Hawk.

pic.twitter.com/zmOjOzROKj

—
OptaJose
(@OptaJose)

June
2,
2022

Gavi
whipped
narrowly
wide
in
the
opening
exchanges,
while
Rafael
Leao
–
making
his
first
start
for
Portugal
–
blasted
over
at
the
other
end.

Morata
opened
the
scoring
after
23
minutes
when
Gavi
surged
forward
to
find
Pablo
Sarabia,
who
unselfishly
squared
for
the
forward
to
tap
in.

Carlos
Soler
almost
doubled
Spain’s
lead
shortly
after
but
was
denied
by
Diogo
Costa
before
blazing
the
rebound
over,
while
Andre
Silva
drilled
just
wide
of
Unai
Simon’s
right
post.

Fernando
Santos
responded
by
sending
on
Ruben
Neves
at
half-time
but
the
second-half
proceedings
continued
in
similar
vein,
with
Spain
in
control.

Leao
spurned
a
presentable
opportunity
by
firing
into
the
onrushing
Simons’ legs,
before
Morata
prodded
wastefully
wide
in
an
attempt
to
chip
Costa.

Cristiano
Ronaldo
was
introduced
just
after
the
hour,
but
it
was
another
substitute,
Horta,
who
equalised
as
he
converted
Joao
Cancelo’s
whipped
cross,
before
Jordi
Alba
headed
agonisingly
wide
with
the
goal
gaping
in
the
closing
stages.

What
does
it
mean?
Spain
winning
run
halted
by
Portugal

Spain
had
won
their
last
four
games
including
friendlies,
scoring
nine
and
conceding
just
once,
and
seemed
set
to
extend
that
run
against
inaugural
Nations
League
winners
Portugal.

However,
Horta’s
ice-cold
finish
snatched
a
point
for
Portugal,
who
have
only
lost
one
of
their
last
10
games
across
all
competitions.
A
result
at
the
Estadio
Benito
Villamarin
that
Luis
Enrique
may
have
felt
Santos’
side
did
not
deserve.

Gavi
the
great

Sergio
Busquets
played
his
135th
game
for
Spain,
a
feat
only
bettered
by
Sergio
Ramos
(181)
and
Iker
Casillas
(167),
but
it
was
his
midfield
partner
Gavi
who
dominated
proceedings.

The
Barcelona
youngster’s
driving
run
was
the
creative
spark
behind
Morata’s
opener
and
the
midfielder
provided
a
game-high
two
chances
(level
with
Raphael
Guerreiro).

Unlucky
Leao

Leao
failed
to
make
a
difference
on
his
maiden
start
for
Portugal,
in
which
he
was
regularly
frustrated
by
the
defending
of
Cesar
Azpilicueta
down
the
left
flank.

The
Milan
winger
won
just
four
of
his
nine
duels,
while
only
finding
the
target
with
one
of
his
game-leading
three
shots
–
the
last
of
which
was
a
great
opportunity
when
isolated
against
Simon.

What’s
next?

Spain
head
to
Czech
Republic
on
Sunday,
while
Portugal
host
Switzerland
on
the
same
day.