Portugal’s grip on their World Cup meeting with Uzbekistan survived a sudden VAR scare after Aziz Ganiev’s fierce strike was wiped off for a Uzbekistan thought they had found a route back into their FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Portugal, only for a VAR review to wipe out Azizjon Ganiev’s first-half strike. The goal was ruled out after officials spotted a foul on Portugal defender JoĂŁo Cancelo in the buildup, keeping Portugal’s 2-0 lead intact.
The decision came after Portugal had already taken control through early goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nuno Mendes. Ganiev’s finish briefly looked like it had changed the mood of the match, but the review shifted attention away from the shot and back to how Uzbekistan won the ball.
VAR check cancels Ganiev’s goal
The incident unfolded in the 29th minute when Uzbekistan pushed forward and Ganiev produced a clean finish that appeared to cut Portugal’s lead. The referee initially allowed the goal, but play paused while the Video Assistant Referee reviewed the attacking phase.
After the check, officials ruled that Cancelo had been fouled before the shot. Under the IFAB VAR protocol, goals can be reviewed for attacking-phase offences before the ball enters the net.
The decision left Uzbekistan frustrated, while Portugal avoided the pressure of defending a 2-1 lead before halftime.
Portugal’s early goals made the decision bigger
Portugal had started sharply. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the seventh minute, before Mendes doubled the advantage 10 minutes later with a smart free-kick routine.
That early 2-0 lead shaped the importance of Ganiev’s ruled-out goal. If the strike had stood, Uzbekistan would have been back in the match before the half-hour mark. Instead, Portugal kept control and continued with a two-goal cushion.
Why the goal was ruled out
VAR was not judging the quality of Ganiev’s finish. The review focused on whether Uzbekistan’s attack was created legally after the challenge on Cancelo.
Once the foul was identified in the same attacking sequence, the goal could not stand. A full match timeline and explanation of the incident was reported by Yahoo Sports.
The moment showed how one challenge before a shot can decide whether a goal survives review, especially in a tournament match where every scoring play is checked closely.
What it meant for Uzbekistan and Portugal
For Uzbekistan, the overturned goal was a painful moment in a difficult first half. Fabio Cannavaro’s side had already conceded twice and needed a spark to disrupt Portugal’s rhythm.
For Portugal, the decision protected the advantage built by Ronaldo and Mendes. Roberto MartĂnez’s team had looked comfortable early, but the incident was a reminder that one loose phase can quickly change the feel of a match.
The Ganiev decision became the first major talking point of the contest: a sharp finish, a delayed VAR check, and a goal removed because of a foul in the buildup.
For more tournament context, including major refereeing decisions and match updates, follow our latest FIFA World Cup news.
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