Portugal overcame some incredibly nervy moments to beat Turkey 3-1 and reach the World Cup play-off final.
The home side looked to be in complete control at the halfway stage, with goals from Otavio and Diogo Jota giving them a two-goal advantage against a Turkey side well off the pace.
But Burak Yilmaz halved the deficit after the break and then had the chance to equalise from the spot with five minutes remaining. His effort flew over the bar though, and Portugal sealed the win on the break in added time through Matheus Nunes.
They will now face North Macedonia, who stunned Italy, next week, with the winner earning their place in Qatar at the end of the year.
It was an attacking side selected by Fernando Santos in front of Portugal’s home fans, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva all in the starting lineup.
Jota should have put Portugal in front early on, but he somehow turned Fernandes’ free-kick over the bar from a matter of yards.
Despite all of those big names being on the pitch, it was Otavio who put Portugal ahead. Silva’s shot was tipped onto the post, and the rebound rolled into the path of Otavio who hammered it past the scrambling Ugurcan Cakir.
Turkey improved slightly after their dreadful start, only to then fall further behind before the break. Otavio clipped a great ball to the back post, where Jota powered a superb header past Cakir at his near post.
Portugal had chances to extend the lead further after the break, with Silva having a shot comfortably saved from the edge of the box.
Jota got on the end of a ball over the top shortly after, and went round Cakir who had made the bizarre decision to charge off his line. As he lost his balance though, the Liverpool man could only balloon the shot over the bar.
Those misses started to look very costly when Yilmaz got Turkey right back in it with 25 minutes remaining. The Turkey striker combined brilliantly with Cengiz Under before cooly finishing to halve the deficit.
Yilmaz came to life after the goal, running the channels for his side and having a shot blocked as he looked to drag Turkey towards an equaliser.
Otavio should have ensured his side could enjoy the closing stages as he got on the end of a great cross from Raphael Guerreiro, but he could only send the header wide of goal.
The biggest moment of the match came with five minutes remaining. Enes Unal went down in the box under a challenge from Jose Fonte, and after consulting the pitchside monitor the referee returned to point to the spot. Yilmaz stepped up but his penalty flicked off the woodwork and over the bar as the drama continued.
Turkey piled men forward in added time as they looked to find the goal that would send it to extra-time, and that ultimately cost them. Portugal swiftly countered, Rafael Leao played it through to Nunes and he calmly slotted past Cakir.
Portugal’s World Cup hopes are still alive, and they will be huge favourites to overcome North Macedonia and book their place in Qatar.
