By Alam Khan
On a night when the Theatre of Dreams hosted the world’s top two players, it was 20-year-old Raphael Guerreiro who proved an unlikely match-winner.
The Lorient left-back came off the bench to head home a fine cross from former Al Ahli winger Ricardo Quaresma in injury time as Portugal stunned Argentina.
It was Guerreiro’s first international goal, in only his second appearance, and stole the show from the big names the fans had mainly come to see.
Having played just the first half, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s eagerly-awaited clash turned out to be much ado about nothing.
Their performances won’t trouble Ballon d’Or voters, but at least Messi showed the greater motivation than Old Trafford’s returning hero – and a bit of magic.
Angel Di Maria gave watching Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal a scare, though, when he went down in agony after being caught late by a stamp on the foot from Nani.
Di Maria recovered and was lively, although it was Messi who continued to pose the biggest threat and he whipped a free kick over the bar after Javier Pastore had been caught by Joao Moutinho.
With the dream duo gone and a raft of changes, including theentrance of Quaresma and Carlos Tevez the match lost its X-factor.
It desperately needed a goal but the 41,233 crowd were made to wait until the final minutes as Guerreiro took his chance to give them something to remember
In comparison, former United favourite Ronaldo was disappointingly quiet as Portugal were often over-run.
When he did get a rare opening from a Jose Bosingwa cross, he twisted and turned in the box but fired well over.
Despite his bit-part role, he still walked off to a standing ovation at the break from local supporters who have never forgotten the impact he made.
Toni Kroos catchesc Kiko Casilla cold as Germany break Spanish jinx
By Andy West
Toni Kroos’ late strike earned Germany their first victory over Spain for 14 years in a well-contested friendly meeting between the current and former world champions.
Both teams resembled reserve sides with Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque giving a debut to Nolito and second caps to Juan Bernat, Raul Garcia and Alvaro Morata, while Germany’s starting XI included only four of the players who featured in the World Cup final in July.
The game was staged in difficult conditions on a wet and windy night in Vigo, but Spain settled better and threatened first when Nolito – playing on his home ground – struck a curling long-range effort to force a good save from visiting keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
Atletico midfielder Garcia called Zieler into action again with a low shot on the turn, while Germany’s chief point of interest in the early stages was an injury for Thomas Muller, who limped off clutching his back after a challenge from Sergio Ramos.
Spain came close to taking the lead inside the final ten minutes when the impressive Isco broke forward from midfield to release Pedro, but the Barcelona winger’s shot was pushed aside by Zieler.
And when it seemed the game was petering out into a goalless draw, the visitors snatched a late winner as Kroos was allowed space to shoot in midfield and struck a fierce low effort which skidded along the saturated turf and crept inside the near post despite the dive of debutant Casilla.
Wayne Rooney silences Scotland
By Staff Reporter
A double from skipper Wayne Rooney helped England to a 3-1 win over Scotland in their friendly at Celtic Park.
The visitors took the lead in the 32nd minute when Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain headed in a cross from Jack Wilshere and – less than two minutes after the break – Rooney headed number two past keeper Craig Gordon.
Scotland left-back Andy Robertson reduced the deficit with a drive in the 82nd minute but England almost immediately restored their lead through a Rooney strike.
In Vienna, Roberto Firmino’s superb late strike ensured Brazil continued their winning start under new coach Dunga with a 2-1 friendly victory over Austria.
David Luiz opened the scoring for Brazil in the second half and, although Austria drew level through Aleksandar Dragovic’s penalty soon after, the South American giants claimed the win thanks to Firmino’s 25-yard thunderbolt.
The result means Brazil have now won all six of their matches since Dunga replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari following the World Cup.
Elsewhere, Robbie Brady helped himself to a superb double as the Republic of Ireland bounced back from their defeat to Scotland to put the United States to the sword.
Brady produced a deft 55th-minute finish and then dispatched a late free-kick to cement a 4-1 win in Dublin.
Goals from Anthony Pilkington and Brady either side of half-time eclipsed Mix Diskerud’s equaliser, with James McClean scoring late on.
