LISBON, Portugal — On Saturday, a fan gave Cristiano Ronaldo a super hug, and Portugal beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-0 to win their third qualifying game for the 2024 European Championship.
Bruno Fernandes, a midfielder, scored twice and set up Bernardo Silva’s goal that broke the tie in minute 44 of an even first half.
With a goals in the 77th and extra time, Fernandes made it clear that what would happen.
Ronaldo made his 199th start for Portugal. He didn’t add to the men’s record of 122 international goals, but he was part of a touching moment when a fan ran onto the field waving a Portuguese flag in the second half. The man put his arms around Ronaldo and lifted him up. Ronaldo also hugged him, but the fan ran away to get away from the security guards.
Portugal has nine points, which is two more than Slovakia, which has seven points after beating Iceland 2-1.
After Fernando Santos left after the World Cup, Roberto Martnez took over as coach. This was the team’s third game since he took over. In Martnez’s first two games, Portugal beat two small countries that were not very good. On his watch, his team hasn’t given up a goal yet.
Silva put the home team ahead when he chipped the goalie Nikola Vasilj as he was coming in after Fernandes set him up. Ronaldo helped set up the first goal by passing to Fernandes right before he set up the goal.
Bosnia & Herzegovina, on the other hand, could have easily been ahead by halfway thanks to its well disciplined defense, which kept the Portugal from scoring until Silva’s goal.
But when a cross fell to Edin Dzeko, who was alone, in the 30th minute, he volleyed it well over Diogo Costa’s net.
Fernandes made sure that his team got all three points when no one was near him and he headed in Ruben Neves’ cross with power.
Also, Luxembourg beat Liechtenstein 2-0 at home.
With four points, Luxembourg was third in the group. Bosnia and Herzegovina has three, and so does Iceland. Liechtenstein has zero.
The top two finishers get to go to Germany for the event.
Comments are closed.