Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Portugal got here from behind to defeat Luxembourg 3-1 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday (March 30). Luxembourg, which opened with a shock win over Ireland, seemed on its solution to one other shock outcome after Gerson Rodrigues put the hosts forward within the thirtieth minute. But Diogo Jota equalized within the second minute of stoppage time and Ronaldo and João Palhinha added second-half targets.
After being held scoreless within the first two qualifiers this 12 months, Ronaldo scored his thirty first objective in World Cup qualifying within the 51st with a contact from shut vary after a low cross by João Cancelo.
He has now scored for Portugal in each calendar 12 months since his first worldwide objective in 2004, and moved six away from tying the all-time scoring file for a males’s nationwide workforce. The file of 109 targets is held by former Iran striker Ali Daei, the one different male soccer participant to surpass the 100-goal milestone.
Ronaldo had been livid after having a objective disallowed within the 2-2 draw towards Serbia on Saturday although it appeared that the ball crossed the road. Jota equalized with a header for his third objective in these qualifiers, and Palhinha got here off the bench to attain his first objective in three worldwide appearances within the eightieth.
Luxembourg defender Maxime Chanot was despatched off within the 86th after being proven a second yellow card for a tough foul. Portugal ahead João Félix needed to depart the sector within the first half due to an damage.
Earlier, Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a objective in every half as Serbia defeated Azerbaijan 2-1 to remain tied with Portugal on the high of Group A with seven factors from three matches. Luxembourg stayed in third place with three factors. Only the group winners qualify instantly for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The runners-up should undergo a playoff.
Mitrovic opened the scoring within the sixteenth and netted the winner within the 81st to provide Serbia seven factors from three matches in Group A. It is three factors forward of Portugal, which visits Luxembourg later Tuesday.
Mitrovic has scored 5 targets within the first three qualifiers. The Fulham ahead had a double within the opening 3-2 win towards Ireland, and he additionally discovered the web within the 2-2 draw towards Portugal.
Emin Makhmudov scored Azerbaijan’s lone objective by changing a penalty kick within the 59th. The hosts, who misplaced eight of their final 9 World Cup qualifiers, stayed with zero factors from two video games.
