Cristiano Ronaldo tucked away a penalty and slammed residence a free kick as he set a brand new report for essentially the most worldwide caps in Portugal’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein of their opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday.
Ronaldo celebrated his 197th cap, surpassing Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa, with a double as he returned to the beginning line-up for his or her Group J qualifier on the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
He transformed a 51st-minute penalty – his first objective in opposition to the tiny Alpine principality – as the house facet went 3-0 up and added the fourth with a trademark free kick that bent again the arms of visiting goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel.
Joao Cancelo had put Portugal into an eighth-minute lead with a long-range half volley that took a slight deflection by way of a crowd of gamers, however Portugal have been annoyed by stable defending from the guests.
Seventy seconds into the second half, nevertheless, Bernardo Silva picked up a free ball after Cancelo’s progress to objective was halted and rifled residence for a 2-0 lead.
Ronaldo, who turned 38 final month, tucked in a penalty after Cancelo had been introduced down earlier than his rasping free kick within the 63rd minute prolonged his report for essentially the most objectives in worldwide soccer to 120.
Earlier the Portugal captain, taken off within the 78th minute earlier than he might bag a hat-trick, missed gilt-edged probabilities when he skied the ball in entrance of objective and glanced a header vast.
Ronaldo had been benched by former coach Fernando Santos for Portugal’s last two video games finally 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar the place they misplaced within the quarter-finals to Morocco.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
