Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has praised Gonçalo Guedes after his impressive impact off the bench in Portugal’s 2-1 friendly win over Chile.
The match was played at the Estadio Nacional as Portugal continued their build-up to the upcoming World Cup, using the game as part of their final preparations for the summer tournament.
Portugal started strongly and controlled possession in the first half against Chile, a team that will not feature at the World Cup. Although the Portuguese side created several chances early on, they were unable to find the breakthrough before the break.
The game took a dramatic turn just before half-time when Rafael Leão and Chile’s Iván Román were both shown red cards after an on-pitch clash, leaving both teams with ten men.
In the second half, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made multiple changes to test different players and tactics ahead of the tournament.
One of those changes saw Cristiano Ronaldo replaced, with Guedes coming on to lead the attack. The substitution proved decisive as the forward made an instant impact.
Guedes opened the scoring after reacting quickly to a perfect pass from Ruben Neves, calmly finishing to give Portugal the lead.
Later, Bruno Fernandes—who took over the captain’s armband after Ronaldo left the pitch—also got on the scoresheet to double Portugal’s advantage.
Chile pulled one goal back late in the match through Lucas Cepeda, but Portugal held on to secure the 2-1 victory.
After the game, Fernandes spoke positively about Guedes’ performance, highlighting the different attacking options he brings to the national team.
He explained that the second half required more control and patience due to both sides playing with ten men, which changed the rhythm of the match.
Fernandes added that Portugal did not have a traditional striker on the pitch after the changes, but Guedes offered something different with his movement and attacking intelligence.
According to him, Guedes’ versatility makes him a strong option for the squad, whether deployed centrally or out wide.
Portugal will now face Nigeria in their final warm-up match before heading to the United States for the World Cup.