Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to set Portugal’s World Cup record as Portugal’s best performance of the tournament defeated Uzbekistan in Houston 5-0. The result left Roberto MartÃnez’s side with four points in Group K, leaving them on course for the finals and eliminating Uzbekistan after losing for the second time in a row.Portugal arrived under pressure after a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening game, which led to the team and Cristiano Ronaldo being dismissed. Having already beaten Uzbekistan 3-1, another slip-up would have left Portugal struggling to qualify for the finals.Instead, they responded with authority.
Ronaldo strikes early as Portugal take control
Portugal needed just six minutes to take the lead through a man who continues to redefine longevity in international football.João Cancelo drove forward from the right before whipping home a dangerous cross from the six-yard box. Ronaldo left his marker with the natural movement that has been present throughout his life and allowed the ball to cross past goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov and into the net.The finish didn’t just give Portugal the early lead. It made Ronaldo the first player in football history to have six consecutive FIFA World Cup appearances, which took place in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026, when he also made his 24th World Cup appearance for Portugal.Portugal added to their lead ten minutes later through a set piece.Given a free kick outside the goal area, Ronaldo stood on the ball as far as he could, drawing the attention of the defensive wall and the goalkeeper. Hopeful of a direct attempt, Ronaldo instead ran the ball without touching it. The trick confused the entire defense and opened up a chance for Nuno Mendes, who curled a left-footed effort around the wall and into the floor.
VAR rejects Uzbekistan before Ronaldo makes more history
Uzbekistan briefly thought they had found their way back into the game midway through the first half.Abbosbek Fayzullaev chased down João Cancelo before the ball was cut to Azizjon Ganiev, who fired into the top corner. Celebrations, however, were cut short following a late VAR review.Officials confirmed that Fayzullaev interfered with Cancelo in the building, when the incident occurred immediately before his departure. The goal was disallowed and Portugal’s two-goal advantage was gone.The decision cost Uzbekistan dearly ten minutes from time.Bruno Fernandes took the midfield players and directed a pass through the defensive line. Ronaldo timed his run expertly, beat the offside trap and calmly headed into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.The goal had historical significance. Eusébio’s Portuguese World Cup tally of nine goals had not been touched since the superstar’s success in the tournament in 1966. Ronaldo’s second goal of the evening took him to 10 World Cup goals, and finally surpassed the goal that had survived for 60 years.
Portugal kept the pressure on after the break
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Portugal dominating space and space as Uzbekistan struggled to create the opening chances.The fourth goal came on the hour from a corner. João Félix shot at the near post and the ball bounced past defender Abdukodir Khusanov before slicing past Nematov and into the net to make it his own.Portugal’s fifth and final goal came three minutes from stoppage time through substitute Rafael Leão.Nélson Semedo broke through on the right and cut his way into the penalty area. Leão arrived unmarked and swept an early finish past the goalkeeper to complete the scoring.
Portugal are almost there as Group K gets underway
Portugal’s dominance was evident in all statistics. He managed 66 percent, shot 16 to Uzbekistan’s seven, registered nine attempts on target and finished with an accuracy of 92 percent.The win takes Portugal to four points from two games and a positive difference of five plus. Uzbekistan remain scoreless and are mathematically eliminated from the tournament.The Group K picture will be clearer when Colombia face DR Congo later in the matchday, but Portugal have put themselves in danger of their last tournament.The decisive test now comes against Colombia, a game that could determine the top spot in the group. A win would see Portugal enter the knockout stages as group winners, although a draw should be enough to progress.For Ronaldo, it was another night that added new chapters to an already overflowing career. Twenty years after his first World Cup appearance, he left Houston having become the first player to score in six World Cups and the leading World Cup goalscorer in Portuguese history.