Manchester City responded to Bernardo Silva’s first goal at a major tournament for Portugal after the Cityzens midfielder fired his country into an early lead against Turkiye at Uefa Euro 2024 on Saturday.
The midfielder pounced on a delivery from Nuno Mendes to put the Selecao on course to win their group with a game to spare and net for the first time at a major international tournament with 21 minutes played.
“The genius that is Bernardo Silva,” former Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon said, speaking as part of ITV Sport’s commentary team.
Bernardo Silva with his first ever goal in a major international tournament 🤩
The Man City star opens the scoring for Portugal 🇵🇹#Euro2024 | #TURPOR pic.twitter.com/1DmrOztjX2
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 22, 2024
“You know he’s going to hit the target. He’s got time because of the deflection. With that mercurial left foot, he’s not going to miss that.”
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Bernardo Silva: Man City post on Twitter
Manchester City’s official account on X – formerly Twitter – responded by posting ‘Bernardo’ in capital letters in one of two posts about the goal.
BERNARDO 😮💨
— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 22, 2024
Portugal’s evening improved further when Samet Akaydin scored a calamitous own goal, turning a pass from outside the penalty area past helpless goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Record international goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo started for Roberto Martinez’s side, who needed little of his instinctive brilliance to establish a comfortable half-time lead.
With Czechia and Georgia on a point apiece following their 1-1 draw in the preceding match, no team will be able to catch Portugal if they win.
“That came at the perfect time, didn’t it?” Dixon said of Akaydin’s misfortune. “Turkiye had just settled a little bit after the first goal – and then bang.”
Bernardo Silva scored for the first time in 10 internationals, having been on a barren run since scoring in three consecutive games in 2023.
You don’t see that very often 🫣
Portugal double their advantage in very bizarre circumstance 🇵🇹#Euro2024 | #TURPOR pic.twitter.com/zNdpga7VW1
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 22, 2024
Portugal outclass Turkiye
Portugal had more than 60% of possession on their way to moving two goals in front at the break in a Euro game for the first time since they played Denmark in 2012.
“He does not miss,” former England Women forward Eniola Aluko said of Bernardo Silva. “As soon as it falls to him, you know it’s going in.
“He’s such an intelligent player: he always gets in the right positions to either link up or score. He sniffs it out. How many times have we seen Bernardo Silva do that for Manchester City?”
