BRUNO FERNANDES SCORED both goals as Portugal booked their place in the World Cup knockout phase with a 2-0 victory over Uruguay at Lusail Stadium.
It initially looked as though Cristiano Ronaldo had drawn level with Portugal’s record World Cup goalscorer Eusebio when he rose to try and head in Fernandes’ 54th-minute cross.
But replays showed that the Portugal captain, who has scored eight World Cup goals, did not get a touch on it and the goal was given to Fernandes as his team claimed a second successive Group H win.
Fernandes’ goal, followed by a penalty in added time, proved enough to turn a tight and tense contest Portugal’s way and put them in pole position to top their group ahead of facing South Korea on Friday.
Uruguay, meanwhile, will need to beat Ghana in their quest for a place in the round of 16.
Portugal showed three changes from the side that beat opening opponents Ghana, with Nuno Mendes, Pepe and William Carvalho all handed starts.
Luis Suarez, meanwhile, was among the substitutes for Uruguay, with Edinson Cavani called into a starting XI that also saw roles for Guillermo Varela and Sebastian Coates.
Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur collected a yellow card after just six minutes following a foul on Ruben Dias, and Portugal dominated the early exchanges.
Fernandes drifted a shot wide, then Ronaldo saw a free-kick deflected for a corner, but Uruguay should have gone ahead 12 minutes before half-time.
Bentancur tormented Portugal’s defence after breaking clear from just inside his own half, but just when it looked as though he had done all the hard work with only Diogo Costa to beat, he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Mathias Olivera became the second Uruguay player to be booked, while Portugal’s Ruben Neves was also cautioned during an opening 45 minutes that finished 0-0.
But there was also a major blow for Portugal as Mendes was forced off injured, leaving the field in tears and being replaced by Raphael Guerreiro just before half-time.
Olivera was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card following a reckless foul, and Wolves captain Neves needed treatment after a challenge by Uruguay’s Matias Vecino.
The deadlock was broken nine minutes into the second period when Fernandes’ cross eluded Ronaldo and Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
It was no less than Portugal deserved, and they confirmed all three points when Fernandes sent Rochet the wrong way from the penalty spot after Jose Maria Gimenez hand-balled.
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It’s a sad world
Obviously on the Ronaldo side of the argument.
@Mick Power: or targetting the king
FIFA is a money making racket, putting players and supporters in danger.
@Ivan Truckrcar: fair enough Ivan, cancel the world cup
@Ivan Truckrcar: It’s a competition enjoyed the world over. Why call it a money racket. How are players and supporters put in danger. No way should anybody let shallow threats spoil their enjoyment of a tournment enjoyed the world over.
@Salvatore Mazzani: You are blessed your Mom chose tennis so.
@Salvatore Mazzani: Did you call and thank your mom for not letting you partake in this sport, too??
@The Viking: I said FIFA was a racket not the world cup. Why have it in Russia or Qatar there are so many more suitable places they could hold it.
@the druid: haha guilty!
Honestly it’s probably in the safest place you could want it. Russia’s xenophobia and questionable human rights record should actually work in their favour…
@Ewan Euphrenza: also, if Isis attacked in Russia, I don’t think Putin would wait around for international approval before retaliating. He could wipe them out in less than a wee
@Robc: *week*
@Ewan Euphrenza: 15% of the Russian population is Muslim
@Robc: wee is better
On this occasion the WC is being held in a safe place
With this kind of stuff the WC is being held in a safe place
There’s no way Putin will let anything happen that could make Russia look bad while this is on