Portugal earn dramatic win over Chile

In what was a thrilling encounter Portugal downed Chile 23-18 this afternoon in Santiago. Both teams scored two tries each though Portugal would come out winners by scoring an intercept try to go ahead five minutes from full-time.

Los Cóndores opened the match strongly with a penalty scored by Santiago Videla in the 8th minute. They would remain the better side for throughout the opening half.

The strong first half from the forwards was rewarded with half time approaching. Hooker Augusto Böhme touched down for what was an unconverted try. It followed the yellow carding of Diogo Ferreira though Portugal finished the half with a penalty from half way to set-up an 8-3 half-time scoreline.

In the second half an aggressive start from Portugal saw Dany Antunes again kicking for goal. His 45th minute strike made it an 8-6 scoreline. Chile responded through Julio Blanc. The winger finished off a reversed move to put Los Cóndores 15-6 ahead.

A third penalty from Antunes followed and with it Chile’s lead was reduced to 15-9 with just over one quarter of play remaining. Like his first half penalty, Antunes again landed from long-range.

Four minutes later and Portugal claimed the lead for the first time. They did so with a 62nd minute score from replacement João Belo. Antunes slotted the conversion to put Os Lobos one point in the lead.

Videla struck a 67th minute penalty to restore Chile’s lead. The 18-16 advantage would stand until four minutes from full-time. Manuel Picão scored the deciding points. His interception saw him running 65 meters to score. Antunes was again on target to give Portugal a 23-18 lead and it would remain as such until full-time.

The win sees Portugal returning home with a 1-1 record from their South American tour. Their narrow loss against Brazil last weekend indicates that they are on the right track ahead of continental competition in 2020.

Chile’s defeat will be a heard one for the players, staff, and supporters. They did perform well and look a better side than the team which began the year.

 

SCORING

CHILE 18
Tries – A. Böhme (30’), J. Blanc (55’)
Cons – S. Videla 1/2 (56’)
Pens – S. Videla 2/2 (8’, 67’)

PORTUGAL 23
Tries – J. Belo (62’), M. Picão (76’)
Cons – D. Antunes 2/2 (63’, 77’)
Pens – D. Antunes 3/3 (38’, 45’, 59’)
Yellow cards – D. Ferreira (29’)

 

SCORING

TEAMS

CHILE
1 Javier Carrasco (17 Iñaki Gurruchaga 46’), 2 Augusto Böhme (16 Tomás Dussaillant 46’), 3 Matías Dittus (18 Mauricio Gómez 57’), 4 Javier Eissmann (19 Augusto Sarmiento 61’), 5 Pablo Huete, 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Nicolás Garafulic, 8 Ignacio Silva (21 Benjamín Soto 59’), 9 Beltrán Vergara (23 Juan Pablo Larenas 64’), 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Julio Blanc, 12 Vicente Ayarza, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 José Ignacio Larenas, 15 Lucca Avelli

Not used: 20 Clemente Saavedra, 22 Christian Huerta

PORTUGAL
1 Francisco Bruno (17 David Costa 72’), 2 Nuno Mascarenhas (18 José Moreira 27’), 3 Diogo Ferreira (16 José Conde 77’), 4 José D’Alte (19 José Roque 68’), 5 José Madeira, 6 João Granate, 7 David Wallis, 8 Manuel Picão (17 David Costa 33’-39’) (20 Frederico Couto 77’), 9 Duarte Azevedo (21 João Belo 42’), 10 Jerónimo Portela (22 João Maria Lima 77’), 11 Raffaele Storti, 12 Tomás Appleton (capt.), 13 António Vidinha, 14 Dany Antunes, 15 Simão Bento (23 João Tavares 73’)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)