Remaining Up to date on 29 Mar 2022 9:44 pm (UK Time)
Two scientific finishes from playmaker Bruno Fernandes both sides of half-time used to be sufficient to peer Portugal beat minnows North Macedonia 2-0 at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão on Tuesday evening and qualify for the 2022 Qatar Global Cup.
North Macedonia stored issues tight early-on, however Portugal started to select thru their tightly-packed defence as the sport wore on, with Fernandes sooner or later slotting house coolly within the thirty second minute, after a slick one-two with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fernandes then doubled the house facet’s lead within the sixty fifth minute, volleying to the keeper’s left from an incisive lofted ball via Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, atmosphere them not off course for a victory that by no means appeared like slipping from their seize.
For his or her phase, the North Macedonians stored issues aggressive however didn’t organize a shot on track, and rather then a prime volley from former Leeds United winger Ezgjan Alioski within the twentieth minute, they failed to significantly threaten Portugal’s objective.
Defeat for North Macedonia signifies that in spite of qualifying for Euro 2020 and beating Ecu champions Italy 1-0 closing Thursday, they fail to see the danger to make their first ever look on the Global Cup.
Portugal’s win, in the meantime, sees them seal their position within the Global Cup in Qatar this iciness, and the UEFA Euro 2016 winners will now uncover their fighters along the event’s different certified countries on Friday April 1st 2022.