By Our Man in Doha
DOHA, Qatar – PORTUGAL’S young guns survived a stunning Belgian fightback in the Qatari heat yesterday, securing a gritty 2-1 victory in a tense Round of 32 clash at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The victory, played out under the floodlights at the sprawling Aspire Zone – Pitch 3 complex in Doha, was a tight affair that saw the Portuguese side show flashes of brilliance and resilience in equal measure.
The Aspire Zone—a massive sporting and education hub that’s become the headquarters for Qatar’s future football dreams—was the scene of the drama as the two European powerhouses battled for a spot in the next round.
Portugal looked to be cruising after a blistering first-half double from midfield sensation Anísio Cabral.
The starlet put his side ahead in the 38th minute, before doubling the advantage deep into stoppage time just before the break.
But just as the Portuguese bench started planning their post-match kebabs, Belgium hit back. Young Noah Fernández converted a free-kick on the stroke of half-time, making it 2-1 and setting up a nail-biting second half.
Despite the soaring temperatures and the pressure mounting on the pitch carved out of the Aspire Zone’s desert landscape, the second 45 minutes became a cagey, goalless stalemate. Portugal’s defence held firm against a relentless but ultimately blunt Belgian attack.
The final whistle confirmed the 2-1 scoreline, sending Portugal into the last 16 and proving that even a dusty training pitch in a global hub like the Aspire Zone can host a World Cup classic.
