Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan: Ronaldo’s Record Goal Sparks World Cup Statement

Ronaldo makes history with brace as Portugal thrash Uzbekistan

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score at six World Cups in 5-0 rout.

Ronaldo sets WC record in Portugal’s 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan...

Cristiano Ronaldo made history with a brace as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0. He became the first player ever to score at six different FIFA World Cups. The Asian debutants are now on the brink of elimination after conceding 3+ goals in all three group games so far.

Portugal almost got the perfect start inside two minutes. Bruno Fernandes turned in the box and unleashed a snapshot that had to be blocked.

Just after that, Ronaldo came inches from meeting a teasing Nuno Mendes cross, slamming the turf in frustration as it skimmed past his outstretched boot.

He made no mistake on the next one though - this time from the opposite flank. He darted in front of his marker at the near post and powered it past Abduvohid Nematov for the record-breaking goal.

Mendes made sure there was no repeat of Portugal’s fade-out vs D.R. Congo. He caught Uzbekistan sleeping with a clever free kick, curling it in with his left while the whole stadium expected Ronaldo to step up.

After the hydration break, Aziz Ganiev looked to pull one back with a stunning strike out of nowhere, but VAR ruled it out for a foul earlier in the build-up.

Ronaldo put the game to bed before halftime with his second of the night, curling it into the corner after a clever pass from Fernandes.

Ronaldo had already passed Eusebio as Portugal’s top World Cup scorer, and he nearly grabbed a first-half hat-trick. Abdukodir Khusanov scrambled back to hook his cheeky chip off the line.

After the break, Portugal worked another smart free-kick routine and the 41-year-old got free again. But Nematov rushed out quickly to smother it after Ronaldo’s run had left the defense in pieces.

Portugal didn’t have to wait long for the next one. Fernandes drilled a low corner that ricocheted off Khusanov then Nematov for an unfortunate own goal.

Nematov’s shaky night got worse when he gifted possession, and it looked certain to hand Ronaldo his hat-trick and Portugal a fifth. The veteran charged down the kick but couldn’t turn it home - the icing on the cake stayed out of reach.

Rafael Leao finished it instead, piling more pain on Uzbekistan with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box.

Fabio Cannavaro beat Portugal in all three games he played against them, but this thrashing leaves his Uzbekistan side needing one of the best third-place finishes to survive. That slim chance disappears completely if D.R. Congo beat Colombia later.

Portugal meanwhile are rolling under Roberto Martínez - 11 wins from their last 15 matches. They’ll hope this 5-0 statement in Houston is the spark that kicks their tournament into gear.