Portugal draws a draw against Ukraine after Ronaldo returns

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Ukraine, champion of Europe, drew 0-0 against Cristiano Ronaldo in his qualifying match for Euro 2020, for the first time since the World Cup.

Ukrainian veteran goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov kept Portugal at bay with several saves in the first hour before the hosts ran out of ideas in the Group B match.

"The team had good times and difficult times, we have not managed to take three or four chances in the first half," said Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who played a tough home game against Serbia on Monday.

"We must now relax and think of Serbia. It's a bit of a blow to our morale but the players are going to recover. "

Portugal scored a goal early in the match when William Carvalho's header was declared offside. Defender Pepe then produced a superb volley that Pyatov, 34, did well.

Ronaldo, ruled out of the Nations Cup in the fall by mutual consent with Santos, then took off and released twice on the left.

First, he cut the inside of the marker and realized a snapshot that Pyatov saved with his legs. Shortly after, he chose to leave Serhiy Kryvtsov and shot in a low shot from the left foot that the goalkeeper again stopped.

The Ukrainian captain kept the best of himself in the 56th minute when he brilliantly hijacked Andre Silva's shot towards the goal with a one-handed stoppage.

While Bernardo Silva dribbled several times in dead ends, Portugal began to lose its composure while Joao Cancelo and Ronaldo sent misplaced centers.

Goalkeeper Rui Patricio blocked Yevhen Konoplyanka's shot – Ukraine's only goal in the match – and Ukrainian junior Moraes was hit by a rebound.

The Portuguese Rafa Silva, substitute of the opposing player, missed his kick after being touched by a Ronaldo center.

In the other Group B match, Luxembourg went 2-1 to Lithuania.

Fyodor Cernych found himself behind the Luxembourg defense to narrow the score in the 14th minute and Lithuania seemed comfortable until Leandro Barreiro caught Vincent Thill's ball on a cross. both times.

Ten minutes after the break, Gerson Rodrigues scored a long-range curling shot to allow Luxemburg to spend at least a few days leading the group.