Ronaldo scores brace as Portugal thrash Luxembourg by 6-0
Ronaldo scores his 122nd International goal as Portugal ensured its second win of the tournament
It was a pure super show from Portugal on the International break as the number nine ranked side in the world picked the second win, in two days, 10 goals scored and none conceded. Head Coach Roberto Martínez's new Portugal walks steadily towards Euro 2024, after winning 6-0 in their trip to Luxembourg this Sunday, with another brace from the talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
After the two goals scored in the victory against Liechtenstein last Thursday, 38-year-old Ronaldo scored another two in Luxembourg (9 and 31) to take his International goal tally to 122 in 198 appearances.
Ronalod's double was followed by Joao Felix (15), Bernardo Silva (18), Otavio (7) and Rafael Leao (88). In this group J, The Navigators are the leader with a total of 6 points, followed by Slovakia with 4 after winning 2-0 against Bosnia, which remains with three points, tied with Iceland, which thrashed Liechtenstein 7-0.
Despite the weakness of the rival, the new Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made no changes in the offensive sector concerning the team that thrashed Liechtenstein 4-0 on Thursday, with Bruno Fernandes and Joao Palhinha in the midfield, Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva of couplings and Ronaldo as the most experienced man in the side.
The Portuguese captain showed that despite his 38 years he has not lost his scoring nose and opened the scoring in minute 9. Man Utd's Fernandes' cross from the right, Nuno Mendes at the far post headed into the heart of the small area and Ronaldo pushed the ball to the net.
With hardly any reaction time, Luxembourg conceded the second on a header from Joao Felix to a cross from Bernardo Silva (15). The Manchester City midfielder scored the third, also with a cross header, from Palhinha's centre (18).
five-time Balon d'Or winner Ronaldo who already has the record for caps and goals in national team matches, left the field after 57 minutes to Gonzalo Ramos at game time when the game had already declined in intensity and Martínez was trying to revive his team with changes.
And the coach was right again since the fifth goal featured two players who had just entered the field when Otavio headed a Rafael Leao cross into the net to complete the hand (77).
The Milan winger could have even increased the difference, but Moris saved a penalty shot by Leao (85), who seconds later again had a very clear chance, but a defender took his shot on the line (86). Finally, Leao found a reward for his insistence and beat Moris with a cross-shot after a good personal move (88) and making it 6-0 for Portugal.
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