Euro 2016: Iceland stops Ronaldo’s Portugal

Iceland came from behind to draw 1-1 with Portugal in their opening Group F clash of Euro 2016 on Tuesday night.
Nani sent the Portuguese into a 31st-minute lead in Saint-Etienne, but Iceland were level early in the second period when Birkir Bjarnason fired home at the far post after Vieirinha was caught under the ball.
It was Iceland that had the first chance of the match inside three minutes, but after breaking into the Portugal box, Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson could not beat Rui Patricio from close range.
Portugal’s first outstanding chance of the match came in the 21st minute when Cristiano Ronaldo found the head of Nani with a cross from the left, but Halldorsson somehow made a point-blank save.
Portugal continued to dominate as the first period developed and the Iberian nation deservedly made the breakthrough in the 31st minute when Andre Gomes set up Nani, who fired home with a calm near-post finish.
Iceland were level in the 50th minute, however, when Birkir Bjarnason found himself unmarked inside the Portugal box and volleyed home a Johann Gudmundsson cross from close range.
The equaliser did not change the pattern of the match though as Portugal continued to look the more capable in the final third. Gomes showed super feet on the edge of the box just past the hour before curling one towards the bottom corner, but Halldorsson was on hand to make the save.
Ronaldo had an outstanding chance to score a second for Portugal in the 85th minute when Nani found his former Manchester United teammate with a cross from the right, but Ronaldo headed straight at Halldorsson.
Next up for Portugal is a clash with Austria on Saturday evening, while Iceland will take on group leaders Hungary.