Football
ESPN staff 6y

Tunisia battle back to hold Portugal

Tunisia battled back from two goals down to hold European champions Portugal 2-2 in an international friendly in Braga on Monday.

Portugal were 2-0 up after 34 minutes when Andre Silva headed home at the back post after 22 minutes before Joao Mario lashed home from 20 yards.

The European heavyweights, who were without Cristiano Ronaldo, appeared on course for another victory over North African opponents after March's 2-1 friendly defeat of Egypt, but the Eagles of Carthage had other ideas.

Despite losing two of their key forwards - Taha Yassine Khenissi and Youssef Msakni - to injury ahead of the World Cup, Tunisia demonstrated their potency before the break when Anice Badri pulled one back on the counter.

Fakhreddine Ben Youssef equalised in the 64th minute with a close-range effort as Nabil Maaloul's side picked up another morale-boosting result on the road to Russia.

The Eagles, who reached the World Cup after seeing off Guinea, Libya and the Democratic Republic of Congo in qualifying, have been pitted against England, Belgium and Panama in Group G.

They begin their campaign against the Three Lions on June 18 in Volgograd.

Portugal, meanwhile, will face Morocco and Iran in Group B, after their opener against neighbours Spain on June 15.

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