LISBON - Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal swept to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Switzerland in their UEFA Nations League clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Sunday.
William Carvalho and Joao Cancelo were also on the scoresheet as the hosts wasted numerous opportunities to inflict more humiliation on the visitors, who suffered their biggest defeat since losing to Germany by the same scoreline in 2008. Portugal have four points from their opening two Group A2 matches and are ahead of second-place Czech Republic on goal-difference.
Switzerland are on zero after back-to-back losses and are now winless in their last four encounters since they qualified for the World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo, whose quickfire brace extended his record tally of international goals to 117, should have had a hat-trick when he wasted two excellent opportunities before halftime, the first a barely believable miss from six yards.
In Prague, a late goal from defender Inigo Martinez rescued a 2-2 draw for Spain against the Czechs. The hosts took an early lead through Jakub Pesek in the fourth minute, before the visitors equalised on the stroke of halftime when midfielder Gavi beat goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.
The Czech’s retook the lead on 66 minutes when Jan Kuchta lobbed goalkeeper Unai Simon from just outside the area but Martinez headed in a Marco Asensio cross in the 90th to break the hearts of the home fans. “We had more chances, but especially in the first half, we had a problem to play against such a strong, aggressively playing team with an excellent defence. We lacked fluidity, so the match was really very complicated,” Spain coach Luis Enrique said.
In Sweden, Erling Haaland struck a goal in each half to bring his international tally to 18 in 19 games as Norway beat the hosts 2-1 to top Group B4 after victories in the their opening two games. The visitors took the lead when Haaland, who scored the winner against Serbia in their opening game, thumped home a penalty in the 20th minute. Haaland doubled the lead in the 69th minute, latching on to a loose ball and surging powerfully into the box before flashing a low right-foot shot across Robin Olsen to make it 2-0. Anthony Elanga scored an added-time goal for the Swedes that proved too little, too late.
The Norwegians top the group on six points while second-placed Serbia beat Slovenia 4-1. Elsewhere, Greece went top of Group C2 with another goal from captain Anastasios Bakasetas enough for the win in Kosovo, just days after his strike saw off Northern Ireland on the road. In the group’s other game, Cyprus and the Irish drew 0-0. In Group C4, North Macedonia won 2-0 in Gibraltar and group leaders Georgia 5-2 in Bulgaria.
William Carvalho and Joao Cancelo were also on the scoresheet as the hosts wasted numerous opportunities to inflict more humiliation on the visitors, who suffered their biggest defeat since losing to Germany by the same scoreline in 2008. Portugal have four points from their opening two Group A2 matches and are ahead of second-place Czech Republic on goal-difference.
Switzerland are on zero after back-to-back losses and are now winless in their last four encounters since they qualified for the World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo, whose quickfire brace extended his record tally of international goals to 117, should have had a hat-trick when he wasted two excellent opportunities before halftime, the first a barely believable miss from six yards.
In Prague, a late goal from defender Inigo Martinez rescued a 2-2 draw for Spain against the Czechs. The hosts took an early lead through Jakub Pesek in the fourth minute, before the visitors equalised on the stroke of halftime when midfielder Gavi beat goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.
The Czech’s retook the lead on 66 minutes when Jan Kuchta lobbed goalkeeper Unai Simon from just outside the area but Martinez headed in a Marco Asensio cross in the 90th to break the hearts of the home fans. “We had more chances, but especially in the first half, we had a problem to play against such a strong, aggressively playing team with an excellent defence. We lacked fluidity, so the match was really very complicated,” Spain coach Luis Enrique said.
In Sweden, Erling Haaland struck a goal in each half to bring his international tally to 18 in 19 games as Norway beat the hosts 2-1 to top Group B4 after victories in the their opening two games. The visitors took the lead when Haaland, who scored the winner against Serbia in their opening game, thumped home a penalty in the 20th minute. Haaland doubled the lead in the 69th minute, latching on to a loose ball and surging powerfully into the box before flashing a low right-foot shot across Robin Olsen to make it 2-0. Anthony Elanga scored an added-time goal for the Swedes that proved too little, too late.
The Norwegians top the group on six points while second-placed Serbia beat Slovenia 4-1. Elsewhere, Greece went top of Group C2 with another goal from captain Anastasios Bakasetas enough for the win in Kosovo, just days after his strike saw off Northern Ireland on the road. In the group’s other game, Cyprus and the Irish drew 0-0. In Group C4, North Macedonia won 2-0 in Gibraltar and group leaders Georgia 5-2 in Bulgaria.
