World Cup 2018 Qualifier Report: Portugal 4 - 1 Latvia

European Champions Portugal clashed with Latvia in an important World Cup Qualifier in Group B at the Estadio Algarve this evening. Latvia were looking to continue their good recent away form having kept three clean sheets on the road and try to frustrate Cristiano Ronaldo and co. in their own backyard.

The home side as expected totally dominated possession in the opening half with 71% of the play but found Latvia’s resistance tough to break down. Portugal’s first attempt on target came in the seventh minute when the impressive Joao Mario picked up the ball just outside the penalty area and turned cleverly but his shot was straight at the Latvian keeper Andris Vanins.

Latvia were living off scraps in the first period but did go close to scoring after 10 minutes from a corner kick which was met by midfielder Igors Tarasovs, whose header went just beyond the far post.

Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo were busy making life uncomfortable for the Latvian defence and created some openings but were reduced to shooting from outside the area which went straight down the throat of Vanins.

The breakthrough came on 28 minutes when Nani was brought down in the penalty area after a neat one-two with Ronaldo. Scottish referee Robert Madden pointed to the spot and Ronaldo duly stepped up to calmly stroke the ball in the left-hand corner to score his 67^th international goal.

Portugal continued to boss the game and Ronaldo had a number of shots at goal but failed to really test Vanins in the Latvian goal. Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo offered great width going forward and whipped in a dangerous ball on the stroke of half-time but it deflected kindly into the grateful arms of Vanins.

There was a feint appeal for a penalty by Latvia after Portuguese defender Bruno Alves went to ground in the box and the ball appeared to strike him on the arm, however, replays showed that the ball had made contact with his chest.

The second period began with the same pattern as Portugal enjoying the lion’s share of possession but found it difficult to create clear cut chances. Ronaldo had a couple of efforts that went tamely wide before Portugal were awarded a second penalty. Andre Gomes was brought down when Joao Mario laid the ball off to the midfielder after some great footwork. However, Ronaldo saw his scuffed spot-kick come back off the left post and deflecting off Vanins before being cleared to safety.

Portuguese coach Fernando Santos brought on Ricardo Quaresma after 65 minutes for Nani in an attempt to clinch all three points. However, somewhat against the run of play, Latvia grabbed an unlikely equaliser two minutes later. Full-back Freimanis whipped in a cross that fell to Rudnevs whose shot was blocked by Jose Fonte but it fell kindly to the feet of substitute Artur Zjuzins who rifled the ball low past Rui Patricio to the delight of coach Marian Pahars.

The Latvian delight was short-lived as Portugal regained the lead almost immediately when the wily winger Quaresma received the ball on the right of the area and delivered an inviting cross for William Carvalho to score his first international goal with a bullet header from a few yards out.

Portugal continued to pressurise the Latvian defence but it wasn’t until the 80^th minute that they created another opening when substitute Gelson Martins controlled the ball brilliantly with his chest but failed the connect cleanly with his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly wide.

Five minutes later, Ronaldo scored his second to make it 3-1, after good work yet again from Quaresma on the right side and he crossed perfectly to the back post where Ronaldo struck sweetly with a spectacular scissor kick to make amends for the earlier penalty miss and draw level with Robbie Keane and Gerd Muller on 68 international goals.

Ronaldo almost claimed the match ball in the first minute of injury time after the crossbar denied the Real Madrid striker his hat-trick after rising superbly to meet Quaresma’s cross. A minute later, Alves put the icing on the cake with a header after goalkeeper Vanins hesitated to claim Raphael Guerreiro’s clipped ball to the far post and the centre-back deftly headed the ball into the opposite corner.

The score line was harsh on the Latvians who produced a plucky defensive display but the result all but ended their slim hopes of qualification and puts Portugal into second place behind Switzerland and ahead of Hungary, who both won in the earlier kick-offs.

Portugal: Rui Patricio; Raphael Guereirro, Bruno Alves, Rui Fonte, Joao Cancelo; William Carvalho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andre Gomes (Renato Sanches 87), Joao Mario (Gelson Martins 72), Nani (Ricardo Quaresma 65); Andre Silva.

Subs not used: Vitorino Antunes, Andre Lopes, Eder, Marafona, Neto, Daniel Pereira, Nelson Semedo, Adrien Silva, Bruno Silva.

Booked: Andre Gomes (16).

Latvia: Andris Vanins; Gints Freimanis, Vitalijs Jagodinskis, Kaspars Gorkss, Vitalijs Maksimenko; Vladislavs Gabovs, Igors Tarasovs, Olegs Laizans, Glebs Kluskins (Aleksejs Visnakovs 79); Artjoms Rudnevs (Vladislavs Gutkovskis 87), Davis Ikaunekis (Arturs Zjuzins 59).

Subs not used: Pavels Steinbors (gk), Kaspar Ikstens (gk), Arturs Karasauskas, Girts Karlsons, Artis Lazdins, Ivans Lukjanovs, Marcis Oss, Roberts Savalnieks, Janis Ikaunieks.

Booked: Vitalijs Maksimenko (26), Glebs Kluskins (14), Kaspars Gorkss (53), Vladislavs Gabovs (76).

Referee: Robert Madden (Scotland).

Attendance: N/A.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).