Portugal remembers Jota as Ronaldo leads approach in World Cup win in Armenia | Soccer Information

Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying win in Armenia as Portugal bear in mind Diogo Jota.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to play in a document sixth World Cup has begun in typical trend with two objectives as Portugal made a successful begin to its qualifying marketing campaign by routing Armenia 5-0.

The match on Saturday marked a poignant day for the Portuguese because it was their first worldwide fixture because the loss of life of their ahead Diogo Jota in a automotive crash in July alongside together with his brother Andre Silva.

The stadium fell quiet as each groups noticed a second of silence earlier than kickoff.

Ronaldo’s objectives prolonged his document as the best scorer in males’s worldwide soccer to 140 and underlined his enduring motivation to maintain setting extra benchmarks earlier than his storied profession involves an finish.

The 40-year-old soccer nice has lately signed a brand new contract with Saudi Arabian membership Al Nassr and led Portugal to victory on the UEFA Nations League in June.

The World Cup is the one main trophy that eludes him – leaving him behind his nice rival Lionel Messi, 38, who lifted soccer’s largest prize with Argentina in 2022.

Subsequent yr would seemingly be Ronaldo’s final probability to win it when the event is staged in the US, Canada and Mexico. Like him, Messi would even be taking part in at a sixth World Cup, setting the pair aside from another gamers with a bunch of names having appeared in 5.

Ronaldo – a five-time Champions League winner, who additionally lifted the European Championship trophy together with his nation – struck in every half on the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium as Portugal made a flying begin in Group F.

Joao Felix additionally scored twice and hit the opening aim after simply 10 minutes. Portugal cruised thereafter.

Joao Cancelo was the opposite scorer, slotting in his facet’s third aim. He marked his first-half strike by pointing to the skies with each palms in remembrance of Jota’s trademark celebration.

“I beforehand talked about that the preparation was good as was the gamers’ behaviour and the work they put in over the previous few days,” Portugal supervisor Roberto Martinez mentioned afterwards. “Now we have to get well properly. The Hungary match [on Tuesday] will probably be one other problem.”

Martinez added his ideas on Ronaldo’s aim within the twenty first minute – the identical quantity worn by Jota on his jersey for membership and nation. “The sign to attain within the twenty first minute is from our Diogo,” he mentioned.

England beat Andorra to keep up successful document

England maintained its one hundred pc document in qualifying with a 2-0 win towards Andorra at Villa Park.

Thomas Tuchel’s group is prime of Group Ok with 4 straight wins after an personal aim from Christian Garcia and a Declan Rice header.

Whereas Ronaldo additional gilded his document, Harry Kane was left pissed off as England didn’t persuade once more underneath Tuchel.

A 1-0 win towards Andorra in June was described by one British newspaper as England’s “worst ever”. It was then adopted by a 3-1 dwelling loss towards Senegal in a pleasant earlier than the top of the season.

Tuchel made 10 adjustments to his squad, and whereas there was an enchancment, England nonetheless needed to toil towards the 174th-ranked Andorrans.

It took Garcia to open the scoring when inadvertently glancing Noni Madueke’s inswinging cross into his personal internet within the twenty fifth minute.

England created extra possibilities after the break, and Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez made two effective saves from shut vary to disclaim Eberechi Eze and Elliott Anderson.

Rice headed in on the far submit within the 67th from Reece James’s cross.

Kane, England’s all-time main scorer, couldn’t prolong his document. His greatest probability got here when failing to attach with James’s first-half cross with an open internet to goal at.

Additionally in Group Ok, Serbia beat Latvia 1-0 to maneuver as much as second within the desk. England play Serbia on Tuesday.