Faro (Portugal) (AFP)
A hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to an emphatic 6-0 win against Lithuania in Euro 2020 qualifying on Thursday in Faro, which has not yet allowed the defending champions to validate their ticket. .
The five-time Golden Ball, in the legs despite his controversial replacement this weekend with Juventus, lost no time in opening the penalty spot (7th) and then breaking (22nd) before scoring the sixth and last goal of his team (65th).
"I knew he was able to play (...) his match put an end to the doubts about his physical condition in those who had it, personally I had none and I said it", said Portugal coach Fernando Santos after the match.
The other Portuguese productions were the work of Pizzi (52), Gonçalo Paciência (56) and Bernardo Silva (63).
"CR7" and his total goals with Portugal to 98 units in 163 selections, getting closer to the world record held by Iranian Ali Daei (109).
Despite this triumph, the Lusitanians will have to wait for the final day of qualifications, Sunday against Luxembourg, to win the right to defend their title.
Second in group B, with 14 points, behind the Ukraine assured to finish first, the Portuguese have not widened the gap with Serbia, victorious at the same time Luxembourg home (3-2) and a length men of Fernando Santos.
Thursday in Faro, in southern Portugal, the European champions have immediately taken the game in hand. Cristiano Ronaldo has managed to turn a penalty that he himself got on a tackle from behind the Lithuanian side Saulius Mikoliunas (1-0, 7th).
The Portuguese captain then doubled the placing of a wrapped shot that ended his race in the skylight of the Lithuanian cages (2-0, 22nd).
Back from the locker room, Pizzi definitely put Portugal to safety after his shot hit the crossbar and then the post before entering the net (3-0, 52).
Gonçalo Paciência scored his first goal in the selection of a shot at the penalty box (4-0, 56th) before Bernardo Silva was victoriously taking center-back from Ricardo Pereira (5-0, 63) .
In the process, Silva served Cristiano Ronaldo in full surface. The 34-year-old then opened his right foot to adjust the Lithuanian goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus and complete the Portuguese correction (6-0, 65th).
© 2019 AFP