It was an old-fashioned rout, with the right to hat trick by Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal beat Lithuania 6-0 (yes, you read that correctly), in a qualifying match for the European 2020, played this Thursday, 14 October, at the Estádio Algarve.
Fernando Santos surprised with the chosen starting 11, betting on Gonçalo Paciência for attack and Ricardo Pereira and Mário Rui for the right and left side of defense, respectively.
Ronaldo, as the coach had assured him, played at the beginning to the delight of the thousands of Algarveans who filled the stands at Estádio Algarve – the ace was one of the most applauded players.
And it was from Cristiano's feet that the first goal was born. At 7′, the Portuguese was ground, inside the area, by Mikoliunas. Called to convert the penalty, Ronaldo did not miss and made it 1-0.
Portugal entered the game very well and, truth be told, they dominated from the start. Bernardo Silva was the commander of an attacking front that put considerable pressure on the Lithuanian defense.
The Manchester City player was highlighted, fabricating (or participating) in several goal moves, sometimes with Pizzi, sometimes with Bruno Fernandes, sometimes with the full-backs.
At 14′, it was Bernardo's feet that began a play that culminated in a great header by Gonçalo Paciência, forcing goalkeeper Setkus to make a great save.
A minute later, Paciência had a good opportunity again, but the shot, made inside the area, hit a Lithuanian player and went into a corner.
He didn't mark the Eintracht Frankfurt player (and he tried well…), he scored Ronaldo twice, in the 22nd minute. The pass was by Gonçalo Paciência and the goal was one of those that Cristiano got us used to. A shot, from outside the area, in an arc, indefensible. 2-0 and delirium in the stands, with everyone saying, in unison, the famous “Siiii”.
The pressure exerted by Portugal was so much that Lithuania could not go out to play: any attempt to attack was soon stopped by the national team.
At 27′, referee Ruddy Buquet awarded a penalty for a foul on Ricardo Pereira. When everything seemed headed for Ronaldo to make the third, the assistant told the head judge that there was no foul.
A short time later, at 30′, Paciencia tried again, but his shot went over the top. The striker was really keen to make his debut to score for the national team.
In the second half, the game's focus was the same: only Portugal attacked. So it's not surprising that he quickly returned to scoring.
At 52′ came 3-0. Bruno Fernandes (the Sporting midfielder scored a good performance) passed to Pizzi and the midfielder, leaning to the right, shot into the back of the net, with the ball still hitting a Lithuanian player.
Patience lived up to his name and, after so much trying, he got the much-desired goal there. The striker took advantage of a mistake by the Lithuania goalkeeper to make it 4-0, in the 56th minute.
But the count still hadn't closed. In two minutes… two more goals. In first place was Bernardo Silva who received a pass from Ricardo Pereira and, freed from marking in the area, scored the fourth. Afterwards, it was Ronaldo who signed the so desired hat trick, in the 66th minute, after an assist from Bernardo. 6-0!
With such an uneven result, everything was enough… even for two fans to invade the pitch to hug Cristiano Ronaldo. One of them even got a selfie…
Until the end, Fernando Santos brought in Diogo Jota, who made his debut as international A. As for the game, he lost pace, but that didn't matter: Portugal's work was done. Victory 6-0, in a night to remember, at Estádio Algarve.
Photos: Nelson Ignatius | Sul Informação
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