Lisbon: Portugal registers their first victory in UEFA Nations League Group A2 as star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the match leading to a 4-0 victory over Switzerland.
Ronaldo again appeared as an instrumental element in the national side with an impressive display of form in the first half at Lisbon. It was a free-kick from the former Sporting CP man that led to Portugal’s opener, with his low effort parried by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel into the path of William Carvalho, who tapped home.
Ronaldo took his international tally to 117 goals with two strikes in the space of five minutes with half-time approaching. Shortly after, that pair combined again, with Kobel unable to hold the Liverpool striker’s shot and Ronaldo nabbing the rebound. The 37-year-old could have claimed another match ball in the 43rd minute but prodded Joao Cancelo’s intelligent cross narrowly wide.
Fernando Santos, Portugal’s coach said that “I am a coach who is satisfied when I win and when the team plays as we rehearsed. We could have scored one or two more in the first half. In the second half, the pace dropped; the players are not machines. Switzerland created some problems, but we always found the right solutions.”.
(With Agency Inputs)