Spellbinding Fernandes stars in emphatic Portugal win
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes played a starring role with a goal and three assists as Portugal swept aside Luxembourg 9-0 in their Euro 2024 qualifier on Monday.
Bruno and fellow Red Diogo Dalot both started at Estadio Algarve, with Fernandes looking to follow up his match-winning goal in the 1-0 triumph over Slovakia on Friday with another prolific performance, but he turned provider as Portugal took an early lead.
Following a clearance from a corner, United's no.8 curled a delightful cross with the outside of his boot straight onto the head of Goncalo Inacio and the centre-back rose high and directed the ball beyond Anthony Moris to give the hosts the advantage.
It wasn't long before the 2016 European champions were two goals to the good either, as Bruno's typically terrier-like hassling of the Luxembourg defence resulted in the midfielder winning possession before feeding Bernardo Silva. The Manchester City midfielder found Goncalo Ramos with his forward pass, and the striker fired into the net to double Portugal's lead.
Ramos added his second and the Selecao's third before the half-time whistle, dispatching superbly following Rafael Leao's pass from the left, before Bruno's creativity unlocked the visitors' once more.
It must have felt like Deja vu for Luxembourg players as the ball fell to Fernandes on the right side of the box following a corner. The midfielder crossed it - albeit this time with the inside of his right foot - onto the head of Inacio with the defender finishing once more to put Portugal 4-0 up at the break.
Not content with just a pair of assists, United's skipper provided for the third time soon after the restart.
Fernandes drove through midfield before arrowing a pinpoint pass over the top of the Luxembourg defence to Diogo Jota, who made no mistake and finished clinically to make it 5-0.
Jota and substitute Ricardo Horta then combined for the latter to get on the scoresheet, before the former got his second of the match to instil a whopping seven-goal lead.
As Martinez made multiple substitutions and the hosts eased off marginally, Luxembourg were presented with opportunities to get goals back but a resolute Portugal defence - featuring United's Dalot at left-back - remained composed and gave little away.
Bruno's star shone all the way through into the closing stages, with our magnifico adding his name to the scoresheet with a calm finish after being found by Horta, just minutes before Joao Felix added a ninth goal.
The massive victory means the Selecao remain five points clear at the top of Group J and still have a 100 per cent record in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Due to Luxembourg and Slovakia having to play one another in the next round of qualifiers in October, and Portugal playing the latter during that international break too, Bruno and Diogo are now very much on the cusp of reaching the tournament in Germany next summer.