Lisbon (AFP)

With a team of reservists where Cristiano Ronaldo played the role of substitute scorer, Portugal crushed fragile Andorra (7-0) Wednesday in a friendly in Lisbon, three days before welcoming France there for a decisive match in the League of nations.

The five-time Golden Ball came in at half-time to score Portugal's sixth goal and bring his tally to 102 goals in 168 international matches, getting a little closer to Iranian Ali Daei's all-time record (109 goals).

The Juventus striker, who was returning to the Portugal team after missing his last game due to coronavirus contamination, wasted several opportunities when he relieved himself by placing his head on a serve from Mario Rui.

Without any of the starting players in Portugal's 3-0 victory over Sweden last month, the reigning European champions had already made a break in the first period thanks to debutants Pedro Neto and Paulinho.

The coach Fernando Santos had warned before the meeting that it would serve mainly to give the opportunity to some players to show themselves, because his executives especially needed rest before receiving the Blues on Saturday in Lisbon, and a final trip to Croatia three days later.

Two days from the end of the group stage, the defending Nations League title-holder and the world champion team are neck and neck at the top of the group 3 standings in League A, with ten points each.

For his debut in the selection Wednesday against Andorra, Wolverhampton striker Pedro Neto scored his first goal for Portugal, with a powerful volley placed under the crossbar of the Andorra goalkeeper (1-0, 8th).

Shortly afterwards, Braga center-forward Paulinho did the same, deflecting a good cross from Nelson Semedo (2-0, 29th) at close range.

With the entry into play of Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva at half-time, then joined by other usual holders, the Lusitanians severely increased the score against the selection of the Pyrenean principality, which occupies the 145th place in the standings. Fifa.

Lille's Renato Sanches first widened the gap on a service from Ronaldo (3-0, 56th), Paulinho signed a second goal (4-0, 61st) and Andorra defender Emili Garcia scored against his camp.

Then, after Ronaldo's victorious header (6-0, 85th), Joao Felix set the final score (7-0, 88th).

© 2020 AFP