Portugal top 2022/23 Nations League group after win over Czech

Portugal beat the

2-0 in Lisbon on Thursday to move two points clear at the top of Group A2 in the Nations League. With four points apiece after the first two games, Portugal took the lead in the standings at the

Estadio Jose Alvalade

.

and

Bernardo Silva

assisted on the hosts' first-half goals, which were 1-0 at the break, thanks to goals from Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes. They couldn't get back into the game as Spain (1-0 winners against Switzerland) leapfrogged them in second place.

When Michal Sadilek volleyed over from a decent position in the 33rd minute,

had to withstand some early pressure before taking the lead. In Portugal's 4-0 triumph over Switzerland last weekend, Cancelo completed the rout with a goal past Switzerland goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek after taking a ball from Silva.

To give Portugal a 2-0 lead, Silva found Guedes, who found space beyond Stanek to score Portugal's second goal with 38 minutes. When Portugal attempted to expand their lead, Stanek denied Diogo Jota, and Guedes had a strong penalty appeal rejected when contested by Sadilek in the box.

A mistake by Adam Vlkanova at the opposite end allowed

Cristiano Ronaldo

to lose a great opportunity, but Portugal held on for the win. After a 1-1 draw in their opener against Spain, Portugal now sit at the top of Group A2 with victories over Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

They have only lost one of their 11 games since the postponed Euro 2020, winning nine and maintaining seven clean sheets in the process.. In their previous match against Spain, the Czech Republic didn't look out of place in the elite flight of the Nations League, but they can't complain about this defeat.

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