Last updated on .From the section Football
A comfortable victory over Azerbaijan moved Portugal to the top of Group A – but automatic World Cup qualification remains in the balance.
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva produced a stunning finish then, after Diogo Jota mis-controlled a Bruno Fernandes cross, Andre Silva tapped in.
Liverpool’s Jota headed in the third to secure the win and leave Azerbaijan on one point at the bottom of the group.
Serbia, who had been joint top, drew 1-1 against Republic of Ireland.
Portugal’s third win of the international break and Serbia’s draw against Republic saw the former European champions move two points ahead into the automatic qualifying spot.
Portugal were without record-breaking goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who was suspended after receiving a second yellow card of the campaign for removing his shirt as he celebrated his second goal in the 2-1 win over Republic of Ireland.
Three matches remain for Portugal, who face Luxembourg on October 12.
Line-ups
Azerbaijan
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Mahammadaliyev
- 13Huseynov
- 14Badalov
- 4HaghverdiBooked at 77mins
- 3SalahliSubstituted forSadikhovat 76′minutes
- 19KhalilzadaSubstituted forGhorbaniat 45′minutesBooked at 60mins
- 8Mahmudov
- 10EmreliSubstituted forBayramovat 63′minutes
- 2QarayevSubstituted forNurievat 45′minutes
- 20OzobicSubstituted forMustafayevat 62′minutes
- 7AlasgarovBooked at 16mins
Substitutes
- 5Mustafazade
- 6Mustafayev
- 9Ghorbani
- 11Sheydayev
- 12Jannatov
- 15Tashkin
- 16Nuriev
- 17Bayramov
- 18Aliyev
- 21Ibrahimli
- 22Sadikhov
- 23Bayramov
Portugal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Rui Patrício
- 20Cancelo
- 3Pepe
- 4Rúben Dias
- 5GuerreiroSubstituted forTavares Mendesat 71′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 6Alves Palhinha GonçalvesBooked at 15minsSubstituted forNevesat 45′minutes
- 8João MoutinhoSubstituted forJoão Márioat 78′minutes
- 10Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forOtávioat 78′minutes
- 11Bruno Fernandes
- 21JotaSubstituted forGonçalo Guedesat 78′minutes
- 9André Silva
Substitutes
- 2Nélson Semedo
- 7Machado Trincão
- 12Lopes
- 13Danilo
- 14Coutinho Meneses Duarte
- 15Ferreira Silva
- 16Otávio
- 17Gonçalo Guedes
- 18Neves
- 19Tavares Mendes
- 22Meireles Costa
- 23João Mário
Live Text
-
Match ends, Azerbaijan 0, Portugal 3.
-
Second Half ends, Azerbaijan 0, Portugal 3.
-
Attempt missed. Pepe (Portugal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross following a corner.
-
Corner, Portugal. Conceded by Elvin Badalov.
-
Nuno Mendes (Portugal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Foul by Nuno Mendes (Portugal).
-
Emin Mahmudov (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Offside, Azerbaijan. Vuqar Mustafayev tries a through ball, but Namiq Alasgarov is caught offside.
-
Foul by Rúben Neves (Portugal).
-
Rahim Sadikhov (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Nuno Mendes (Portugal).
-
Vuqar Mustafayev (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt missed. Emin Mahmudov (Azerbaijan) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Rahim Sadikhov.
-
Attempt blocked. Otávio (Portugal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nuno Mendes.
-
Foul by Gonçalo Guedes (Portugal).
-
Abbas Huseynov (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by João Mário.
-
Substitution, Portugal. João Mário replaces João Moutinho.
-
Substitution, Portugal. Gonçalo Guedes replaces Diogo Jota.
-
Substitution, Portugal. Otávio replaces Bernardo Silva.
- The Birthday Cake Game: It’s almost impossible not to play along…
- Do you have bizarre dreams? Scarlett investigates if they really have any meaning
Leave A Comment