United News of Bangladesh

Cristiano Ronaldo may have been missing, but Portugal hardly felt his absence as Roberto Martínez’s men stormed into next year’s FIFA World Cup, annihilating Armenia 9–1 in their final qualifier at the Estadio do Dragão in Porto. On a night brimming with goals and confidence, experienced playmaker Bruno Fernandes and rising star João Neves each bagged hat-tricks. Renato Veiga, Gonçalo Ramos and Francisco Conceição added their names to the scoresheet to complete the nine-goal rout. Ronaldo was serving a suspension after receiving a red card in Thursday’s shock 2–0 loss to Ireland, a defeat that briefly rattled the Portuguese camp. But on Sunday, Fernandes and company flipped the script from the opening whistle. Portugal needed only seven minutes to break the deadlock. Fernandes’ wicked free-kick was pushed onto the post by the Armenian goalkeeper, but the rebound looped perfectly for Veiga, who nodded home into the bottom-right corner. Armenia, however, responded brightly. Eduard Spertsyan levelled in the 18th minute after Grant-Leon Ranos powered down the flank, outmuscling João Cancelo before cutting the ball back for his teammate to sweep into the net. Three minutes later, Ramos had a golden chance to restore the lead but fired straight at the goalkeeper. Portugal kept pressing, and in the 30th minute their patience paid off. A move sparked by Nélson Semedo flowed through Fernandes before Neves drilled a low strike past the keeper. Portugal nearly added another in the 40th minute when a clever Fernandes ball found Bernardo Silva, only for the Armenian goalkeeper to deny him with the faintest of touches. The hosts didn’t have to wait long, though. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Rúben Dias was dragged down in the box, winning a penalty. Fernandes stepped up and coolly slotted down the middle, sending Portugal into the break with a commanding 5–1 lead. Fernandes went on to grab a hat-trick with goals in the 52nd and 72nd minutes. Neves later joined him, sealing his own treble in the 81st minute with a brilliant nutmeg finish inside the box. Substitute João Félix missed a golden opportunity in the 89th minute, but in stoppage time Francisco Conceição ensured Portugal ended with a flourish, striking in the 92nd minute to wrap up a dominant victory—one that sends Portugal confidently toward football’s biggest stage next June. In the other fixture of the group, a spirited Ireland side overcame Hungary 3–2 despite falling behind twice. The Irish found their second equalizer ten minutes before the final whistle, and then stunned Hungary with a dramatic winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time to book their place in the play-offs. Hungary, despite being favourites for most of the group stage, ultimately finished the qualifying round in tears.