(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Goncalo Ramos justified the shock decision to drop Cristiano
Ronaldo by scoring a hat-trick on his full debut as Portugal
demolished Switzerland 6-1 on Tuesday to power into the World Cup
quarter-finals, trend reports citing bein
sports .
The 21-year-old Ramos, who started instead of Ronaldo, became
the youngest player to strike three times in a World Cup knockout
match since Pele in 1958.
Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro and Rafael Leao were also on target for
a rampant Portugal, who booked a showdown with Morocco on Saturday
for a place in the last four in Qatar.
Ronaldo, 37 and now without a club after his departure from
Manchester United, has hogged the headlines during the tournament
while looking a shadow of his former self.
The only man to score at five World Cups, Ronaldo was left out
by coach Fernando Santos against the Swiss following his angry
response to being substituted in the last group game.
It was a bold call to omit a player with a record 118
international goals in favour of giving a full debut to Ramos, the
Benfica striker who had played just 33 minutes across three
previous appearances.
But it took just 17 minutes for Ramos to reward Santos' faith,
and to achieve something Ronaldo has never done -- score in a World
Cup knockout game.
Joao Felix clipped delicately into the feet of Ramos, who
quickly swivelled past Fabian Schaer and rifled into the roof of
the net past a stunned Yann Sommer.
Otavio, who returned to the Portugal midfield after injury in
their opening match, shot straight at Sommer before Ramos did
likewise moments later.
Xherdan Shaqiri drew a fingertip stop from Diogo Costa with a
dipping free-kick from distance, but Portugal soon had their
second.
Bruno Fernandes whipped in a corner and the 39-year-old Pepe
towered above the Swiss defence to powerfully head home.
Diogo Dalot hacked Remo Freuler's header off the line after
Diogo Costa failed to properly deal with a cross, but the Swiss
simply had no answers against an irresistible Portugal.
Ramos turned in his second from close range six minutes into the
second half from Dalot's cross down the right.
He then turned provider by playing in Guerreiro to lash in
another just four minutes later as the Swiss defence was ruthlessly
ripped apart.
It was also Ramos who inadvertently glanced a corner towards
Manuel Akanji at the far post as the Manchester City centre-back
pulled one back for Switzerland.
Ramos completed his treble after more outstanding work from
Felix, nonchalantly dinking over Sommer with one of his final
touches before making way for Ronaldo.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's introduced elicited the
biggest roar of the night. Ronaldo did have the ball in the back of
the net but it was ruled out for a clear offside.
Leao capped off a sensational Portugal performance with a
terrific curling strike in stoppage time.