Portugal will take on North Macedonia in the World Cup playoff final on Tuesday evening courtesy of a 3-1 win over Turkey in their semi-final contest at Estadio do Dragao.
The home side started the match in excellent fashion and should have taken the lead in the 11th minute through Diogo Jota, but the Liverpool attacker somehow missed the target from close range.
The breakthrough arrived in the 15th minute, though, when Otavio converted from close range after Bernardo Silva's effort from outside the box had struck the foot of the post.
Turkey improved as the first half developed, and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa did brilliantly to keep out a low strike from Orkun Kokcu in the 27th minute.
The visitors suffered a killer blow shortly before the interval, though, with Jota expertly finding the bottom corner with a brilliant header after Otavio had floated a cross towards the far post.
Turkey managed to halve the deficit in the 65th minute when Burak Yilmaz fired home from close range after smart work from Cengiz Under.
Otavio should have scored a third for Portugal 15 minutes from time with a close-range header, but the attacker's effort missed the post, and it so nearly cost Fernando Santos's side.
Indeed, Turkey had a golden chance to level the scores from the penalty spot in the 85th minute after Jose Fonte had caught Enes Unal - with the spot kick awarded after the referee had a look at the monitor - but Yilmaz fired over the crossbar, much to the delight of the home side's fans.
Santos's team made sure of the victory in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the 90 when Rafael Leao found Matheus Nunes, who expertly found the back of the net.
Portugal have not failed to qualify for the finals of a World Cup since 1998, making the round of 16 in two of their last three participations, including back in 2018, and they will face North Macedonia, who incredibly beat Italy 1-0, on Tuesday for the right to play in this year's competition.
Matt Law
