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Ronaldo's brace leads Portugal to 6-0 thrashing

Portugal maintained their winning start in the EURO 2024 qualifiers after trouncing Luxembourg 6-0, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting twice on Sunday night.

The Selecao made three changes to the side that beat Liechtenstein, as Antonio Silva, Diogo Dalot and Nuno Mendes were brought back in the defence.

The visitors had a perfect start after Ronaldo fired them ahead on nine minutes with a close-range finish after a headed pass back into the middle by Mendes.

Portugal remained in advanced areas, as Felix doubled the lead six minutes later with a close range header after a well floated cross by Bernardo Silva.

Roberto Martinez's charges were clinical with their chances as Bernardo Silva got the third goal three minutes later with another header in the box after getting on the end of Joao Palhinha's cross.

Portugal were already running riot on the half-hour mark as Ronaldo extended their lead to four goals and grabbed his brace with a low strike in the box after a through ball by Bruno Fernandes.

In a one-way traffic, Bernardo Silva came close to adding a fifth goal for the Selecao on the stroke of half-time after combining with Ronaldo on the edge of the box but he lifted his shot just over the crossbar.

Luxembourg had their first shot on target just from the break after Vincent Thill forced a save out of goalkeeper Rui Patricio with a thumping strike.

Portugal, meanwhile, were in no rush going forward from the break and showed how comfortable they were on 64 minutes as they rested Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva who were both replaced by Goncalo Ramos and Ruben Neves.

With 15 minutes to go, even the likes of Fernandes and Felix were withdrawn and the two substitutes combined for the Selecao's fifth goal two minutes later, as Otavio powered home a header into the top corner from a cross by Leao.

Leao had a golden chance to extend the lead for Portugal from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box, but his penalty was saved by goalkeeper Anthony Moris.

The AC Milan striker eventually got his name on the score-sheet in the last minute after going on a solo-run into the box and firing home a low strike past Moris.

Portugal boast a perfect six points from their first two games in Group J while Luxembourg were left with just one point from their opening game.

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