Portugal edged Chile 2-1 in an entertaining international friendly on Saturday, using the encounter as another important step in preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After a cagey first half that ended goalless, the match burst into life after the break as Portugal found their rhythm in front of an energetic home crowd.
Gonçalo Guedes broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, calmly finishing off a well-worked attacking move to hand the hosts a deserved lead. Portugal continued to press forward, and captain Bruno Fernandes doubled the advantage in the 75th minute with a composed strike that appeared to put the contest beyond Chile’s reach.
The South Americans, however, refused to fold quietly. Lucas Cepeda reignited the contest deep into stoppage time, scoring in the 92nd minute to set up a tense finale for the Portuguese side.
Despite Chile’s late pressure, Portugal managed to hold firm and secure the narrow victory.
While the win will please Portugal manager Roberto Martínez, the closing stages exposed defensive lapses that will need attention ahead of the World Cup.
Chile, meanwhile, can draw positives from their spirited late response as they continue rebuilding for future international competitions.
