Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal for the 2022 World Cup after scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Italian champions North Macedonia on Tuesday. North Macedonia were dreaming of their first appearance in a World Cup final after Italy’s shock exit, but Portugal and Fernandes proved to be a step too far in Porto. Fernandes put the Portuguese nerves to rest at the Estadio do Drago by eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass in the first half and then made the win more comfortable in the second, laying down on an inch-perfect cross from the excellent Diogo Jota.
The win means Portugal have extended their run of qualifying for six of the six World Cups since the turn of the century, while Ronaldo is in his fifth, aged 37.
The striker’s best previous result was to reach the semi-finals in 2006, when Portugal were defeated by Germany.
World ranking 67th-ranked North Macedonia finished second in Group J after beating Germany and knocking out European champions Italy in the play-off semi-finals on Friday, with Alexander Trajkowski winning in the 92nd minute to achieve a stunning result. did. in Palermo.
Meanwhile, Portugal has yet to strike a balance between its traditional conservative approach and a range of attacking talents that would be the envy of any country in the world.
They were stripped of the top spot in Group A by Serbia, while Fernando Santos’ side were relieved that Turkey missed an 85th-minute penalty in their semi-final win on Thursday with a 2-1 scoreline.
North Macedonia also made a confident start, their possession so strong that an agitated home crowd blew the whistle.
Portugal’s first opportunity came in the 14th minute when Jota threaded Ronaldo and the striker threw the ball with his left foot, only to fire at the far post.
Jota went further into the field from a corner from Fernandes and then in the 32nd minute, Fernandes struck to capitalize on an error from North Macedonia captain Stefan Ristovsky.
Fernandes intercepted Ristovsky’s wild cross-field pass, tying the ball with a cushioned pass ahead of his Manchester United teammate Ronaldo. Ronaldo reached the edge of the field, but instead of shooting Vissar through Misliu’s legs and back to Fernandes, who went inside.
Jota may have doubled the advantage but hit the side-netting before half-time, having been relieved to reach North Macedonia without penalty after Portugal’s most vocal spell ever.
The visitors regrouped and found their feet early in the second period but were undone again by a clever Portuguese break and Fernandes.
Pepe dismissed Ennis Bardhi and Portugal were away, the ball spread to Jota, who made a fine cross in the field. Fernandes reaches and holds the finish perfectly on the half volley.
North Macedonia wanted a late penalty when Danilo Pereira threw the ball into the field away from Bojan Miovski, before Ronaldo was prevented from reaching the near post by Fernandes’ cross in another counter-attack.
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With Minnow beaten, Ronaldo may look to Qatar.
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