Cristiano Ronaldo took simply six minutes to silence the doubters and provides Portugal an early lead in opposition to Uzbekistan in Houston this afternoon.
The Al-Nassr celebrity was below stress to carry out after a quiet show within the draw with DR Congo final week that led to hypothesis he may very well be neglected by boss Roberto Martinez.
However, having watched the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe shine in current days, the 41-year-old stepped up with a trademark end.
Joao Cancelo surged down the correct and his low cross was good for Ronaldo to get throughout his marker and hearth dwelling on the close to publish.
The purpose was a record-breaking effort as Ronaldo turned the primary man to attain at six World Cup finals.
Ronaldo’s effort capped a brilliant begin for Portugal with Bruno Fernandes seeing a shot deflected over and Ronaldo additionally narrowly failing to get on the top of an outstanding Nuno Mendes centre.
Portugal’s delight was doubled after 17 minutes when Pedro Neto was tripped on the sting of the realm. Everybody anticipated Ronaldo to take the free-kick however, as a substitute, Mendes whipped a left-footed effort into the underside nook handy Martinez’s males a 2-0 lead.
PORTUGAL TEAM NEWS
Ruben Dias returned on the centre of defence after damage saved him out of the DR Congo recreation.
Joao Felix got here in for Bernardo Silva in midfield.
Portugal: D Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Felix, Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo
Portugal substitutes: Sa, R Silva, Semedo, Araujo, Dalot, Inacio, S Costa, Nunes, B Silva, Neves, Ramos, Trincao, Leao, Guedes, Conceicao
UZBEKISTAN TEAM NEWS
Uzbekistan: Nematov; Khusanov, Ashurmatov, Nasrullaev, Abdullaev, Karimov; Shukurov, Xamrobekov, Ganiev, Fayzullaev; Shomurodov
Uzbekistan substitutes: Yusupov, Ergashev, Alijonov, Sayfiev, Eshmurodov, Ulmasaliyev, Urozov, Mozgovoy, Iskanderov, Jiyanov, Urunov, Khamdamov, Esanov, Amonov, Sergeev
The place to observe Portugal v Uzbekistan: TV and on-line streams
Portugal v Uzbekistan kicks off at 6pm UK time on Tuesday. It will likely be broadcast on ITV1 and STV and accessible to stream by way of ITVX and the STV Participant. Sky subscribers can even stream the sport by way of Sky Go.
Stats for Portugal v Uzbekistan
- That is the primary assembly between Portugal and Uzbekistan.
- Ronaldo has failed to attain in every of his 10 main match video games.
- The 41-year-old has not scored a non-penalty purpose in his final 13 match appearances.
- Solely as soon as earlier than have Portugal didn’t win each of their opening two video games at a World Cup. That incidence got here in 2014, after they didn’t progress to the knockouts.
- Portugal are winless of their final two World Cup video games in opposition to AFC groups, shedding to South Korea in 2022 following a draw with Iran in 2018.
- Uzbekistan have misplaced their final three video games having suffered defeat in each pre-World Cup friendlies.
- Solely one in every of Uzbekistan’s final 23 video games in opposition to UEFA opposition has resulted in victory (D10, L12).
