Frustration for Ronaldo as Mexico hold Portugal in Confederations Cup

BBC
BBC
Ronaldo's Portugal frustrated by Mexico

Cristiano Ronaldo set up the opening goal as his Portugal side were held to a draw by Mexico in their first game at the Confederations Cup in Russia.

Pepe had a goal disallowed for offside after a referral to the video assistant referees before Ricardo Quaresma sold the keeper a dummy and slotted in.

Javier Hernandez equalised with a low header from Carlos Vela’s cross.

Cedric Soares’ 86th-minute shot was deflected in, but Hector Moreno snatched a point in the 91st minute.

Mexico defender Moreno, who recently joined Italian side Roma from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, headed in off the post from a Jonathan dos Santos cross.

Earlier, Ronaldo had a header brilliantly tipped away by Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa, while Gelson Martins – a target for Liverpool – fired just wide on the counter for Portugal.

On Friday, a source close to Ronaldo revealed the Real Madrid forward wants to leave Spain.

The source told BBC Sport that the 32-year-old is “upset” after being accused of tax fraud in the country, adding: “He feels he’s honest, has good character and did everything OK.”

Spanish prosecutors have accused Ronaldo of evading tax of 14.7 million euros (£13m), which he has denied.

Later on Sunday, Chile beat Cameroon 2-0 thanks to goals from Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal and Tigres forward Eduardo Vargas.

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez came off the bench to cross for Vidal’s 81st-minute header, with Vargas finishing in injury-time after Sanchez rounded the keeper but failed to beat a defender on the line.

Had Sanchez found the net, he would have become Chile’s all-time leading goalscorer. He currently has 37 goals, level with former Lazio and Juventus striker Marcelo Salas, who retired in 2008.

Just before the break in Moscow, Vargas had a strike correctly ruled out for a very marginal offside following the use of video technology. His goal in the 91st minute was also referred to the video assistant referees – presumably to check on another possible offside – but it stood.

The other two teams in Group B – Australia and world champions Germany – play on Monday (16:00 BST).

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