Portugal cruised to a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at NRG Stadium in the World Cup, powered by two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The European giants entered this crucial Group stage fixture searching for a vital win. Uzbekistan hoped to bounce back after a tough defeat left them at the bottom of the standings.
Portugal took control of the ball from the kickoff and opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Bruno Fernandes provided the spark, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to fire a low shot into the bottom corner.
Uzbekistan struggled to cope with the rapid passing of the Portuguese midfield. Odiljon Khamrobekov received a yellow card in the 14th minute, and just three minutes later, Nuno Mendes drilled home a second goal.
The Portuguese side continued to dominate the game. In the 39th minute, Ronaldo guided home his second goal of the match after a swift counter-attack, putting Portugal three goals ahead before the break.
Uzbekistan needed a massive tactical shift during the halftime interval to stop the rampant Portuguese attack. However, the second half offered very little relief for the struggling Asian side as Portugal kept up the tempo.
Portugal continued to create chances at will after the restart. In the 60th minute, a dangerous cross forced Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov to turn the ball into his own net to make it 4-0.
The game grew slightly physical as both managers made substitutions. Renato Veiga picked up a yellow card for Portugal in the 68th minute, but the European side remained in complete control of the midfield.
Substitute Rafael Leão completed the scoring in the 87th minute. The forward slotted the ball home from close range just minutes after entering the pitch to cap off a brilliant team performance.
Portugal dominated possession with 66 percent and recorded 17 total shots, with nine hitting the target. They finished with an expected goals rating of 2.44, while Uzbekistan managed just two shots on target and 0.24 expected goals.
This victory gives Portugal four points in the group and significantly boosts their chances of reaching the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan remains without a point and faces an early exit from the World Cup tournament.
