Portugal scored five second-half goals as they thumped Poland in Porto to qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Nations League.
After a disappointing opening period from Roberto Martinez’s side, a Cristiano Ronaldo double and strikes from Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto ensured they will finish top of Group A1.
Leao opened the scoring for the hosts just before the hour mark as he headed home from a Nuno Mendes cross after starting the move with a superb run from inside his own area into the Polish half.
Ronaldo doubled their lead via a penalty before Fernandes added a third with a superb strike from the edge of the box that crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
Neto made it four with a smart finish inside the area before skipper Ronaldo completed the five-star second-half display with a wonderfully-executed bicycle kick from close range.
The 39-year-old has now scored five goals in Portugal’s five matches in their Nations League campaign and is top scorer in League A of the competition.
Dominik Marczuk got one back for the visitors with a well-taken finish from the edge of the box but with two minutes left on the clock it was nothing more than a consolation.
Portugal knew that a win would be enough to secure qualification to the quarter-finals, but with Scotland beating Croatia in the other game of the group, the victory ensures top spot for Martinez’s side.
As for Poland, they are now level on points with Steve Clarke’s Scotland at the foot of the group and the two nations will go head-to-head on Monday in a battle to avoid automatic relegation.
Talking Point – Ronaldo shows class in tale of two halves
Despite the emphatic and ruthless second half from the hosts, it was Poland who were arguably the better side in the opening period and perhaps deserved the lead at the break.
They continuously made threatening in-roads into the Portuguese box and Bartosz Bereszynski should have opened the scoring with a free header in the area before Krzysztof Piatek went inches wide with an effort from the edge of the box.
Portugal’s best and only real clear-cut chance of the half came in the closing stages as Ronaldo prodded over from a matter of yards out from a Leao header back across the six-yard box. It was a let-off for the visitors but a sign of things to come.
Portugal came out for the second half and were instantly a transformed side. Neto and Leao were immediately threatening and it was just 14 minutes after the break that the latter broke the deadlock.
Following Ronaldo’s penalty it took Martinez’s men just 15 minutes to extend their advantage to five as they scored in what felt like every attack.
Player of the Match – Rafael Leao (Portugal)
Despite being involved in just one of the five goals, Leao’s header to break the deadlock was certainly the most important one with it managing to deflate the visiting side.
The winger was Portugal’s bright spark in a difficult opening period as he caused problems for the defenders down Poland’s right and his goal was the perfect demonstration of his ability to drive with the ball at his feet to carry his side up the pitch.
Player Ratings
Portugal: Costa 6, Dalot 6, Silva 6, Veiga 6, Mendes 7, Fernandes 7, J.Neves 6, B.Silva 6, Leao 8*, Ronaldo 8, Neto 8. Subs: Felix 5, Samu Costa 5, Vitinha 7, Trincao 5, Tavares N/A.
Poland: Bulka 5, Piatkowski 5, Bednarek 5, Kiwior 6, Bereszynski 6, Bogusz 5, Romanczuk 6, Zielinski 6, Zalewiski 7, Piatek 6, Urbanski 5. Subs: Kaminski 6, Walukiewicz 5, Buksa 5, Kozubal 4, Marczuk 7.
Key Moments
59′ – GOAL! PORTUGAL 1-0 POLAND (LEAO): Leao drives from inside his own box before feeding Mendes to the left of him. The wing-back returns the favour as he digs out a cross that finds the head of Leao who heads home past Bulka.
70′ – PENALTY FOR PORTUGAL: Vitinha from the edge of the box slips a clever through-ball into Dalot on the edge of the six-yard box but his effort is blocked by the arm of Kiwior and the penalty is given.
72′ – GOAL! PORTUGAL 2-0 POLAND (RONALDO): It’s the captain who steps up for the hosts and he just clips his penalty down the centre of the goal with Bulka diving to the right and that is surely job done.
80′ – GOAL! PORTUGAL 3-0 POLAND (FERNANDES): Vitinha pulls off a smart turn in midfield before feeding Fernandes. He drives to the edge of the box before unleashing a thunderous effort that finds the top left corner as it crashes off the underside of the crossbar.
83′ – GOAL! PORTUGAL 4-0 POLAND (NETO): Portugal are running riot! Ronaldo slips an excellent ball into Neto in the right of the box. He takes one touch to gather it in his path before striking home at the near post.
87′ – GOAL! PORTUGAL 5-0 POLAND (RONALDO): WOW! This is getting silly now. Trincao and Vitinha combine in the right of the box. The latter stands up a cross to the back post where Ronaldo is waiting to execute a phenomenal bicycle kick to get his second and Portugal’s fifth.
89′ – GOAL! PORTUGAL 5-1 POLAND (MARCZUK): It’s raining goals in Porto. Portugal have their pocket picked on the edge of their box as they look to play out. Marczuk works space for the shot and fires well into the bottom right corner.
Key Stat
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