Soccer-Ronaldo scores homecoming goal but Sweden wreck the party

FUNCHAL, Portugal, March 28 (Reuters) - Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his Madeira homecoming with an early strike but Sweden wrecked the party by hitting back from two down to win 3-2 with a last-gasp own goal in a friendly on Tuesday.

The match, Ronaldo's first appearance for Portugal on the island where he was born, took place on the eve of a ceremony to name Funchal airport after the 32-year-old Real Madrid forward, giving the whole evening a testimonial feel.

But the celebrations turned to misery for the 10,000 crowd as Joao Cancelo put through his own goal in stoppage time to hand Sweden an unlikely victory against the European champions.

The first half went entirely to script as Ronaldo, whose last professional match in Madeira was a league game with Sporting in 2003, turned in Gelson Martins' cross after 18 minutes for his 71st international goal.

Ronaldo volleyed narrowly wide before again combining with Martins, whose pass was turned into his own net by Sweden captain Andreas Granquivst in the 34th minute.

Portugal were fielding an experimental team and Sweden, who had already exploited some gaps in the defence during the first half, pulled one back through Viktor Claesson in the 57th.

Ronaldo went off to a standing ovation on the hour but then had to watch from the bench as his side capitulated.

Claesson got in front of his marker to prod the ball home from a corner in the 76th before Niklas Hult steamed down the left and sent over a low cross which Cancelo, under no pressure, turned into his own goal at the far post.

Ronaldo already has a museum dedicated to him in Funchal, with a three-metre bronze statute of the four-times world player of the year on the seafront not far from the main entrance. (Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Ken Ferris)

(This story has not been edited by economictimes.com and is auto–generated from a syndicated feed we subscribe to.)
Stay on top of business news with The Economic Times App. Download it Now!
FROM AROUND THE WEB

Virat against boundaries, uniting us like no one else

Manyavar

Feeling thirsty? Order drinks on holachef

HolaChef

Know Mumbai's best kept secrets

Mumbai by the Bay

MORE FROM ECONOMIC TIMES

Ask why Lalu cannot contest elections: PM Modi

6 interesting things about the new UP CM, Yogi Adityanath

7 secrets that make Marwaris so good in business

From Around the WebMore from The Economic Times

Yes, you can retire early with SIP!

Birla Sunlife MF

Last opportunity to own 3&4 BHK at Worli

Omkar 1973

Lavish 1, 2 & 3 bed residences @ Rs. 1.53 Cr+

LODHA New Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.

Senior living apartments starting @ 42 lakh

Gagan Lifespace - Nulife

I value money because I have seen tough times—Ajinkya Rahane

6 interesting facts about the new UP CM, Yogi Adityanath

Actress Kalpana given state funeral, celebrities pay homage

Meet India's next generation of business tycoons