Dias, Jota and Fernandes all score as Portugal ease past Finland in Euro 2024 warm-up game

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes came off the bench to fire a classy double as Portugal made a winning start to their Euro 2024 preparations with a merited 4-2 friendly victory over Finland in Lisbon.

Roberto Martinez’s side next face home friendlies against Croatia on Saturday and Ireland on Tuesday before their tournament opener against Czech Republic in Group F in Leipzig on June 18.

The 2016 European champions will be happy enough with this work-out at a bouncing Estadio Jose Alvalade as despite some late slackness that presented the visitors with goals, an upset never looked likely.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota slammed a penalty into the visiting net for the second after Anssi Suhonen hauled back Francisco Conceicao on the stroke of half-time.

Rúben Dias had headed the home side ahead on 17 minutes with a close-range header from Vitinha’s corner.

Half-time substitute Fernandes added a third with a blistering strike from distance on 55 minutes before Finland threatened to mount an unlikely comeback via veteran substitute Teemu Puuki, who scored twice (72′ and 77′) with his side’s only shots on goal.

Fernandes secured the victory when he tucked the ball into the net for a fourth on 84 minutes from the pass by the outstanding Conceicao.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed the match and will also sit out the Croatia match due to club exertions with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, but is due to return to the squad to face Ireland.

Roberto Martinez’s side secured a deserved 12th win out of 13 matches, but will be disappointed with the late errors that saw Finland close to 3-2 from 3-0 behind. It would not have flattered the home team if they had scored five or six from a one-sided contest, but the mistakes at the back that saw Teemu Puuki net twice late on will concern the home side when they study replays of the match.

The young Porto player enjoyed a quite glorious evening on the right wing for his country, and looks like he has the skills to become a major talent in the Euro 2024 finals.

Portugal: Jose Sa 6, Cancelo 8, Silva 7, Dias 7, Nuno Mendes 7, Neves 7, Palhinha 7, Vitinha 8, Leao 7, Diogo Jota 7, Conceicao 8 Subs: Dalot 7, Inacio 6, Fernandes 8, Ramos 6, Neto 6, Pereira 6

Finland: Hradecky 8, Alho 6, Talvitie 6, Ivanov 6, Jensen 7, Antman 6, Peltola 6, Suhonen 6, Nissila 6, Niskanen 6, Kallman 6 Subs: Terho 6, Lod 6, Soiri 6, Walta 6, Pukki 8

17′ GOAL! (DIAS) PORTUGAL 1-0 FINLAND Goal had to come and it does via Ruben Dias as he heads home the corner from Vitinha. All too easy from close range and the home side have the lead in Lisbon.

45+2′ GOAL! (JOTA) PORTUGAL 2-0 FINLAND Jota smashes the penalty kick to the keeper’s right as he dived left and it will be 2-0 to Portugal at half-time.

55′ GOAL! (BRUNO) PORTUGAL 3-0 FINLAND Bruno Fernandes with a blistering hit from 25 yards or so. Flies high into the net. No chance for Hradecky. Francisco Conceição with a fine assist. Great goal.

72′ GOAL! PORTUGAL 3-1 FINLAND (PUKKI) That is a magical finish by Pukki as he raced onto the through ball from Lod to chip the ball over Sa. First shot of the night, and a first goal of the night for the Finns. Brilliant goal. Really was. 41st goal for his country.

77′ GOAL! PORTUGAL 3-2 FINLAND (PUKKI) Would you believe this. Pukki is back on the goal trail. He accepts the pass from Matti Peltola to send the ball crashing into the net beyond Sa, who raced from his line in vain. That is astonishing. Two shots, and two goals from Pukki, the goal machine. Suddenly not so comfy.

84′ GOAL! (BRUNO) PORTUGAL 4-2 FINLAND And finally they do have the fourth as Finland squander possession before Portugal break to the other end at speed. Francisco Conceicoo with the pass for Fernandes to slide the ball into the net in restoring the two-goal lead.

Teemu Pukki scored twice inside five minutes to bring his total for Finland to a remarkable 42 goals from 121 matches.