Portugal should not be missed. Opposing Armenia this Sunday in the Porto Dragon stadium, the Seleçao did not miss the boat and offered a demonstration of offensive football to its audience. In the end, the Lusitanians won with a score of 9-1 with two hat-tricks from Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes. A first for both men.
After the disappointment against Hungary a month ago (2-2) and the non-match proposed in Ireland last Thursday (2-0), the Portuguese, deprived of Cristiano Ronaldo, suspended with his red against the Irish, opened the scoring quickly. Renato Vega’s header in the seventh minute, but the excitement was still there and allowed the Armenian equalizer ten minutes later (1-1, 18th).
At that moment, fans were wondering which way the scales would tip. Fortunately for them, their players chose the positive scenario. Gonçalo Ramos gave his team the lead again (2-1, 28th) before Joao Neves scored twice for his first goals for the selection (30th and 41st). Just before the break, Bruno Fernandes found the net again with the Seleçao (45th+1), he who had not scored in the Portuguese jersey since November 2024 and a match against Poland. A penalty which allowed his team to return to the locker room with a comfortable lead (5-1).
Cristiano Ronaldo absent? Offensive card
With their black jersey in homage to the legend Eusebio, Ballon d’Or 1965, the Portuguese resumed their march forward in the second half. And Bruno Fernandes again found the fault on an assist from Gonçalo Ramos (6-1, 51st) before scoring his first hat-trick in the selection, once again from the penalty spot (7-1, 72nd). Enough to give ideas to Joao Neves who also planted his third goal (8-1, 81st).
This completely crazy offensive scenario ended in stoppage time with a final goal from Chico Conceiçao (9-1, 90th + 2). In a fiery atmosphere, the Portuguese raised their arms to the sky at the final whistle. This quasi-historic success is the second largest in the history of the Seleçao after a 9-0 in Luxembourg in September 2023. Two matches during which a certain Cristiano Ronaldo was not there. Regardless, Portugal will play its ninth World Cup finals next summer. The seventh in a row.
