Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 139th and one hundred and fortieth worldwide targets as Portugal thrashed Armenia 5-0 of their first match because the demise of Diogo Jota in a automobile accident in July.
A minute's silence was held earlier than the World Cup qualifier in honour of Jota, who received 49 caps for Portugal, and banners have been on show across the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan.
João Félix opened the scoring within the tenth minute earlier than Ronaldo doubled their lead when he transformed Pedro Neto's cross. João Cancelo celebrated his objective to make it 3-0 by mimicking Jota's online game celebration.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo prolonged Portugal's result in 4 shortly after half-time with a surprising strike of a bouncing ball from distance, whereas his Al-Nassr teammate Félix added a second of his personal to finish the scoring.
The match was Portugal's first in qualifying group that additionally contains Hungary and the Republic of Eire.
Serbia stored up their hopes of catching England in Group Ok with a 1-0 win towards Latvia in Riga. Dusan Vlahovic scored the decisive objective within the twelfth minute, slotting the ball previous Krisjanis Zviedris from outdoors the penalty space.
Dragan Stojkovic's aspect are 5 factors behind the group leaders, England, with the 2 groups assembly in Belgrade on Tuesday.
Within the African part of World Cup qualifying, Nigeria reside to struggle one other day after beating Rwanda 1-0. Tolu Arokodare, who accomplished a transfer from Genk to Wolves on switch deadline day, scored an acrobatic Fiftieth-minute winner after coming off the bench.
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Defeat for Nigeria in Uyo would have completed off their possibilities of qualifying for the World Cup however the victory strikes them to inside six factors of the group leaders, South Africa, and 5 factors behind second-place Benin with three video games to go. Group winners qualify mechanically for the finals in North America subsequent summer time, with second place heading into intercontinental playoffs.
