Cristiano Rolando scored twice as Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 in World Cup Group K. Nuno Mendes free kick, own goal and Leao late strike complete rout. Portugal top Group.
Cristiano Ronaldo answered his critics in style. The 41 year old scored twice as Portugal dismantled Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston to secure their first win of Group K and move into pole position to top the group.
After a flat 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opener, Roberto Martinez's side needed a statement. They got one, Rolando made history again, Nuno Mendes scored a stunner, and Portugal delivered the emphatic response Martinez demanded.
ROLANDO WRITES HISTORY AGAIN WITH FIRST HALF DOUBLE
The scrutiny on Rolando was intense after Portugal's drab opener. Martinez kept faith and started his captain. It paid off in the 6th minute.
Joao Cancelo's deft low cross found Rolando at the back post. The No. 7 made history as the first player to score at six different World Cup, steering the ball past Abduvohid Nematov. He sprinted to the bench to celebrate with staff a clear message this was a team win, not just the Rolando show.
Nuno Mendes made it 2-0 in the 17th minute with a superb free kick, using Rolando as a decoy before curling into the far corner. Then Rolando struck again in the 39th minute. Bruno Fernandes threaded a perfect thought ball, Rolando bent his run to stay onside, and fired across Nematov for 3-0. His 10th World Cup goal moves him to Portugal's outright top scorer at World Cups.
Roy Keane summed it up on ITV: "What you have to admire about Ronaldo is the hunger, the desire. Desperate to get more goals. At the highest level, it's about one touch finishing. His body position is always right."
PORTUGAL ADD GLOSS AS MARTINEZ GETS RESPONSE
The second half drifted, but Portugal kept pressing. In the 60th minute, Nematov scored an own goal from a clever set piece routine after the ball rebounded off Abdukodir Khusamov.
Rafael Leao hammered a late fifth in the 87th minute, lashing into the top corner to cap a dominant night. Rolando had chances for a hat trick but wasted them. It didn't matter he had already arrived at his tournament.
The 5-0 scoreline was Portugal's biggest World Cup win since 2006. With 975 career goals and counting, Rolando show no signs of slowing down at 41. Not even Lionel Messi can boast scoring at six World Cups.
GROUP K SITUATION - PORTUGAL IN CONTROL
The win put Portugal top of Group K. After Martinez's decision to start Ronaldo despite fierce criticism, it looks vindicated. Uzbekistan's hopes took a major hit, while Portugal now control their own destiny heading into the final Group game.
The Uzbekistan keeper Aziz Ganiev thought he had a consolation in the 29th minute with a stunning strike, but VAR ruled out a foul in the build up. That was a close as they came.
KEY MOMENT FROM HOUSTON:
6 MINUTE: GOAL! Ronaldo scores first at his 6th World Cup from Cancelo cross.
17 MINUTE: GOAL! Nuno Mendes free kick make it 2-0.
29 MINUTE: VAR! Ganiev goal disallowed for foul.
39 MINUTE: GOAL! Rolando latches onto Fernandes pass to 3-0.
60 MINUTE: GOAL! Nematov own goal from corner.
87 MINUTE: GOAL! Leao lashes late fifth.
Portugal responded like champions. Rolando responded like Rolando. The debate over the GOAT continues, but one thing is clear he's not done yet.
0 Comments