Cristiano Ronaldo fortunate to keep away from purple card as Portugal star studs keeper in face

Cristiano Ronaldo was lucky to keep away from a purple card throughout Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to Slovakia on Friday evening after catching their goalkeeper with a harmful problem. The former Manchester United star lunged in for a sort out with Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka and the shot-stopper got here off a lot worse from the 50-50 collision, with Ronaldo maybe fortunate to flee additional punishment from the officers.

The 38-year-old had been left pissed off by his goalless sport in opposition to Slovakia, though the Selecao led 1-0 by his former membership team-mate Bruno Fernandes’ strike within the forty third minute.

Ronaldo would get his likelihood so as to add his title to the scoresheet when the ball fell kindly to the veteran goalscorer contained in the penalty space, however he snatched on the likelihood and mishit the primary effort.

The ball bobbled away from him as he desperately dived feet-first in direction of the ball with Dubravka dashing off his line to smother it.

And Ronaldo appeared to catch the Slovakian’s neck along with his studs, prompting outrage from the hosts as Dubravka laid nonetheless down on the ground.

Ronaldo did look apologetic as he rushed over to Dubravka to examine on his state, whereas Slovakia’s gamers crowded referee Glenn Nyberg demanding the Dutch official present him a purple card.

However, after a quick VAR examine, the referee’s on-field choice to provide the Portugal icon a yellow card stood, though replays confirmed Ronaldo was maybe lucky to flee a dismissal for his lunge.