(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Bruno Fernandes scored twice to give Portugal a 2-0 victory over
Uruguay on Monday and send them into the knock-out stages of the
World Cup alongside France and Brazil, trend reports citing
bein
sports .
The Manchester United midfielder scored a cross-cum-shot nine
minutes into the second half and then added an injury-time penalty
following a handball by Jose Maria Gimenez.
With Portugal already through, Uruguay must now beat Ghana in
their final Group H match to stand any chance of also
progressing.
Both sides made three changes from their opening matches, with
Portugal bringing in veteran Pepe for the injured Danilo Pereira,
who suffered cracked ribs in training.
Pepe became the third-oldest outfield player in World Cup
history.
Portugal dominated the first half, hogging the ball and creating
several chances, but without ever testing Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio
Rochet.
Uruguay's forwards, Edinson Cavani and Darwin Nunez were starved
of the ball but the South Americans still had the best opportunity
of the first period.
Rodrigo Bentancur picked the ball up in his own half and surged
forwards, slipping between two defenders to find himself one-on-one
with goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who spread himself well to save the
midfielder's shot.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was largely anonymous in the
first 45 minutes but did delight fans with a shoulder pass to pick
out William Carvalho, who volleyed over.
To open the scoring, Fernandes created space for himself on the
left and curled an inswinging cross into the mixer, with Ronaldo
breaking the offside trap to attempt a glancing header.
As the ball nestled in the goal, Ronaldo wheeled away in
celebration but FIFA decided he had not touched the ball, thus
denying him a ninth World Cup goal, which would have put him level
with Portuguese great Eusebio.
Uruguay coach Diego Alonso threw on forwards Maxi Gomez and Luis
Suarez as the South Americans belatedly began to exert some
pressure, and both came close to an equaliser.
Gomez's rasping drive from 20 yards came back off the post with
Costa beaten, while Suarez hit the side netting from close
range.
With the 90 minutes almost up, Fernandes nutmegged Gimenez,
whose trailing hand diverted the ball away from the midfielder and
prevented him from finding himself one-on-one with Rochet.
Iranian referee Alireza Faghani awarded the spot-kick after a
VAR check and Fernandes sent Rochet the wrong way after his
signature hop, skip run-up.
He then almost completed a hat-trick but hit the post from 20
yards.