Portugal defence exposed again as Tunisia force draw
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Tunisia - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - May 28, 2018 Tunisia’s Saif-Eddine Khaoui in action with Portugal's Adrien Silva REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
BRAGA, Portugal (Reuters) - Portugal's defensive frailties were again exposed as Tunisia hit back from two goals behind to hold the European champions to a 2-2 draw in a World Cup warm-up on Monday.
Portugal, who rested captain and leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo after he played in Saturday's Champions League final for Real Madrid, went ahead through an Andre Silva header from Ricardo Quaresma's pinpoint cross in the 22nd minute.
Midfielder Joao Mario doubled the lead when he rifled in a shot from outside the penalty area and Portugal, who face Spain, Morocco and Iran in their World Cup group, seemed to be in control.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Tunisia - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - May 28, 2018 Tunisia’s Anice Badri celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
The cracks began to appear five minutes later, however, when Anice Badri was left alone inside the penalty area to fire past Anthony Lopes and pull one back for Tunisia who face England, Panama and Belgium in their World Cup group.
Portugal's defence imploded in their previous game, a 3-0 friendly defeat by the Netherlands in March, and gave coach Fernando Santos more cause for concern in the 64th minute.
They failed to properly clear a free kick and when the ball was played back in, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef got between four defenders to slide the ball home with the hosts appealing in vain for offside.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Tunisia - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - May 28, 2018 Portugal's Joao Moutinho in action with Tunisia’s Ghailan Chaalali REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Bern, editing by Ed Osmond)
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Tunisia - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - May 28, 2018 Portugal's Cedric Soares in action with Tunisia’s Ghailan Chaalali REUTERS/Miguel VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Tunisia - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - May 28, 2018 Tunisia’s Fakhreddine Ben Youssef celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Miguel VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Tunisia - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - May 28, 2018 Portugal's Andre Silva REUTERS/Miguel VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Tunisia - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - May 28, 2018 Portugal's Joao Mario celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
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