Portugal's Goncalo Guedes hails 'important victory' against Czechs

Portugal win 2-0 in Lisbon to open up a two-point lead at the top of Uefa Nations league Group A2

Fans congratulate Portugal defender Joao Cancelo at the end of the Uefa Nations League, League A Group 2 match against Czech Republic at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on June 9, 2022. Portugal won 2-0. AFP

Portugal's Joao Cancelo in action with Czech Republic's Vaclav Jemelka. Reuters

Portugal's Joao Cancelo celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. AP Photo

Portugal's Joao Cancelo, left, challenges for the ball with Czech Republic's Adam Hlozek. AP Photo

Portugal's Joao Cancelo celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. AP Photo

Portugal's Goncalo Guedes in action with Czech Republic`s Michal Sadilek. EPA

Portugal midfielder Goncalo Guedes reacts to being fouled by Czech Republic midfielder Michal Sadilek. AFP

Portugal midfielder Goncalo Guedes is challenged by Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Pesek. AFP

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group B - Portugal v Czech Republic - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - June 9, 2022 Portugal's Goncalo Guedes in action with Czech Republic's Michal Sadilek REUTERS / Pedro Nunes

Ales Mateju of Czech Republic is challenged by Goncalo Guedes of Portugal. Getty Images

Portugal scored twice in five minutes to beat the Czech Republic on Thursday and open up a two-point lead at the top of Group A2 in the Nations League.

Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes were on target in the 33rd and 38th minutes in Lisbon as Portugal continued their strong start in the competition with a comfortable 2-0 win.

Victory means they sit two points clear of Spain, having won two and drawn one of their opening three games.

"We played a great game," said Guedes. "They tried to cancel us out and that's what they did. We wanted more goals but it was an important victory."

The Czech Republic started the match level on points with their opponents but drop to third, after Spain defeated Switzerland 1-0 in Geneva.

"Portugal showed their quality," said Czech forward Vaclav Jurecka. "They converted the two chances they created in the first half. I also could have scored with my chance but I went for the top corner and missed. I'm sorry I couldn't help the team more."

The Czech Republic travel to Spain on Sunday while Portugal will have the chance to extend their advantage when they play away at Switzerland, in what has been an encouraging couple of weeks for Fernando Santos' side.

Portugal had to go through the play-offs to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, beating Turkey and North Macedonia to avoid an embarrassing exit.

But this convincing win came after they claimed a 1-1 draw away against Spain in their opening fixture before thrashing Switzerland 4-0 in the second, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.

Cancelo also got on the scoresheet there and the Manchester City defender made it two goals in as many matches by scoring just after the half-hour against the Czechs.

It came from some brilliant work by Bernardo Silva, who wriggled free on the right and found his City teammate inside him, who fired in.

Five minutes later, it was two and again Bernardo was at the heart of it, sliding through Guedes, who swept a superb finish beyond Jindrich Stanek.

The Czechs looked dangerous on the break in the second half and a goal might have made a game of it but Jurecka shot wide when they had a three against two.

Ronaldo almost added a third for Portugal but his first effort of the game was saved by Stanek.

Sarabia strikes for Spain

Spain registered the first win of their Nations League campaign as Pablo Sarabia's early goal was enough for victory over Switzerland.

Sarabia capitalised on a Swiss error at the back to give Luis Enrique's side the lead in Geneva and that was enough for the visitors in a game that lacked clear-cut chances.

Spain, though, will be relieved to be up and running, this win coming after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Portugal and then needed a 90th-minute goal to salvage a 2-2 draw away at the Czech Republic last weekend.

Switzerland, meanwhile, succumbed to a third consecutive loss in the competition.

This was their first competitive loss at home in eight years, a run that stretched across 23 matches.

Spain are second in Group A2, two points behind Portugal while Switzerland are last, four points adrift of the Czech Republic.

"I think the balance of the game was very positive and that allowed us to take charge," said Luis Enrique. "We deserved the victory."

Sarabia's goal came after an error by Eray Comert's heavy touch was also forced by some aggressive Spanish pressing, the loose ball seized upon by Ferran Torres before Marcos Llorente crossed for Sarabia to poke home in the 13th minute.

Neither side really looked like adding another and Switzerland's best chance came towards the end, as Haris Seferovic beat the offside trap in the 87th minute and looked to be through, only for Unai Simon to rush out and close the space.

Seferovic still managed to steer the ball across for Breel Embolo but he was 30 yards out and the chipped finish drifted wide.