Kiev (AFP)

Defeated on Monday in Kiev by Ukraine (2-1), who qualified for the finals of the Euro-2020, the Portugal of a Cristiano Ronaldo scorer for the 700th time of his career will have to wait for the final days to validate his ticket.

With six wins in seven games and eight points ahead of their opponents of the day, the Ukrainians, still undefeated in these qualifiers, are guaranteed to finish first in Group B.

Second with eleven points, the reigning European champion Portugal will play the second ticket for the Euro with Serbia, a length after his victory in Lithuania (2-1).

The men of Fernando Santos, however, have a more favorable schedule for the last qualifying matches by receiving Lithuania and moving to Luxembourg.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates were quickly led by realistic and supportive Ukrainians.

In the 6th minute, a header from Sergey Krivtsov on the corner forced Rui Patricio to the parade but Wolverhampton goalkeeper pushed the ball into the feet of Gent Roman Yaremchuk striker who scored unopposed.

The Portuguese reacted timidly, without the slightest occasion, until Raphael Guerreiro struck above.

Without being the masters of the ball, Andriy Shevchenko's men made the score worse on one of their few incursions into the Portuguese camp.

After a long breakthrough on the left wing, Vitaliy Mykolenko centered at the penalty spot for West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko who, lonely, took the left left no chance to Rui Patricio (27).

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From the second Ukrainian goal, Portugal rushed to the attack, but Danilo Pereira (30th) and Cristiano Ronaldo (41st) shot above.

After the break, the Portuguese resumed their siege but fell on a tall Andriy Pyatov.

Shakhtar Donesk's 35-year-old goalkeeper denied Cristiano Ronaldo's 50th-minute free-kick and increased aerial play.

It was not until a penalty for a hand Stepanenko in the area to see Pyatov beaten by Cristiano Ronaldo (72).

The Portuguese captain scored the 700th goal of his professional career and his 95th goal with the Portuguese selection, which brings him closer to the world record held by the Iranian Ali Daei (109).

Despite other opportunities, that did not stop the first defeat of Portugal since the World Cup-2018 and its elimination in the round of 16 against Uruguay (1-2).

© 2019 AFP