ortugal beat Uruguay 2-0 on Monday with two goals from midfielder Bruno Fernandes to become the third team after France and Brazil to qualify for the World Cup knockout stage.
The Europeans had dominated possession before Fernandes’ 54th minute cross floated past Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, who was rooted to the spot as Cristiano Ronaldo rose to head the ball and initially celebrated the goal as his.
Fernandes scored the second in injury time after a penalty was awarded for handball following a video review.
Uruguay, who had knocked Portugal out of the 2018 World Cup, will rue a string of chances on the break: midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur skipped past three players only to see his shot brilliantly saved, Maxi Gomez hit the post and Luis Suarez shot into the side netting.
Portugal’s second win in two games put them top of Group H on six points and heading into the last 16. Uruguay, third on one point, must beat Ghana in their final group game to have a chance of progressing.
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Portugal player ratings: Fernandes shines as Ronaldo claims his goal
Bruno Fernandes may have one or two goals on the night for Portugal – and was unlucky not to grab a third – but was still the star man on the night at Uruguay were beaten at the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo ran off celebrating the opening goal but was not officially awarded it after his header was adjudged to have failed to meet Fernandes’s cross.
Portugal then won a penalty which Fernandes dispatched with Ronaldo off the pitch, settling nerves to seal his nation’s spot in the knockout stage. Uruguay will need to beat Ghana to get through Group H and avoid their first World Cup group stage exit since 2002.
Nizaar Kinsella was at Lusail Stadium following a Ronaldo-led Portugal side.
Full match report
Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Portugal beat Uruguay to progress into the last World Cup’s last-16.
The opening 45 minutes had perhaps been the most turgid of the tournament so far. A game dominated by seasoned veterans looking for a last dance, the tempo was something approaching that of a waltz, with only Rodrigo Bentancur going close to breaking the deadlock by gliding through the Portuguese defence.
Unlike club level this season, however, the Tottenham midfielder could not finish and struck tamely at Diogo Costa.
Read Jonathan Gorrie’s full match report here!
FT: Portugal 2-0 Uruguay
Portugal through as Uruguay face HUGE Ghana grudge match.
GOAL! Portugal 2-0 Uruguay | Bruno Fernandes ‘90
90:00 – No doubt about that one as Fernandes scores!
PENALT TO PORTUGAL!
90:00 – Gimenez done (harshly) for a handball!
VAR check!
Handball against Uruguay!
Portugal’s squad so strong
84:00 – To bring on Paulinha and Nunes to see a game out is a huge boost to Santos. Even if the Selecao aren’t as entertaining as they could be, there’s so much to steel to compliment their style going forward.
CHANCE FOR URUGUAY!
77:00 – Suarez hits the side netting from point-blank range!
CHANCE FOR URUGUAY!
74:00 – Gomez hits the post! Great work from Pellistri
