The opening playoff match between Portugal and Sweden held true to form from start to finish. Most fans of the sport and followers of each international club expected the crucial match to be a tight one, with the potential for a late goal to quickly determine the outcome. That's exactly what happened last week at the Estadio Da Luz in Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo notching the game-winning goal with a diving header in the 82nd minute to give his side the slim advantage heading into the second and final leg of the 2013 WCQ Playoff.
Ronaldo and Portugal were able to fire off 19 shots throughout the course of the match while their opponents could only counter with 6 offensive opportunities. Strong defense on the part of the red and green coupled with the fact that the 28-year-old Ronaldo was all over the field eventually spelled defeat for an extremely talented Sweden team. Trailing by only one goal heading into the playoff finale at Friends Arena in Stockholm, the Swedes still serve as a very capable opponent since one of the top scorers in the world, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, remains a major part of the club moving forward. The addition of English referee Howard Webb as the main official to the match could help Sweden as well according to midfielder Sebastian Larsson, since Larsson believes Cristiano Ronaldo won't have the same freedom he's had in the past.
"We have an English referee now so we can probably go in a bit harder, I do not think Webb is going to fall for the same tricks so easily," Larsson said regarding the way he feels Cristiano Ronaldo is granted the benefit of the doubt in many cases. "Howard Webb is used to refereeing where the game is a little more physical. He's a great referee, too, which is important for such a big game. We cannot go out all guns blazing but we must have a more attacking game with more ball higher up the pitch, then we will get Zlatan more in the game."
Making final preparations for what he hopes will be a World Cup clinching performance for his international side, Cristiano Ronaldo isn't blind to the fact that Sweden will have extra motivation playing in front of the home crowd. Only holding a one goal advantage, CR7 understands his team still holds a small advantage but he's expecting a very difficult competition.
"Portugal have a small advantage, and we are expecting a very difficult game, but we are ready," Ronaldo said recently. "We will have to be fully focused. More than anything else, these players want to be in Brazil, so we will give our best to get there."
Portugal vs. Sweden - Second Leg: DATE, TIME & TV INFO
DATE: Tuesday, November 19
TIME: 2:30pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: ESPN
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE
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