Portugal thrashes Armenia 9-1 to reach World Cup

Sports Desk

Portugal secured a place in the 2026 World Cup after crushing Armenia 9-1 without Cristiano Ronaldo. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and PSG’s Joao Neves scored hat-tricks in the Group F match in Porto on Sunday.

Renato Veiga opened the scoring for Portugal, with Gonzalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao also on the scoresheet. After Ronaldo’s red card in a draw with Hungary in October and a surprise defeat to Ireland on Thursday, Portugal finally qualified for the final group game.

The Euro 2016 champions are set to play in their seventh consecutive World Cup – although Ronaldo has yet to taste a World Cup victory.

Manchester United midfielder Fernandes was the star of the show from the start. Portugal took the lead in the seventh minute with a goal. Fernandes’ sharp inswinging free-kick from the left flank hit the post, and Veiga headed the ball home.

The visitors equalised in the first attack – Armenia captain Eduard Spertzian scored with a perfect shot from Grant-Lyon Ranos’ cross.
But Portugal then picked up the pace and took full control of the match. PSG forward Ramos intercepted an opponent’s backpass and beat the goalkeeper to find the net.

The third goal came in a brilliant attack. Neves scored with a powerful shot from the corner of the box after a pass from Fernandes. Neves scored his second goal with a great turn from a free-kick – the goalkeeper had nothing to do when the ball hit the top right corner.

Portugal were awarded a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Ruben Dias was fouled, which Fernandes converted with a low shot.

He kept up the pace after the break, scoring his second goal from a pass from Ramos. He completed his hat-trick from a penalty after fouling debutant substitute Carlos Forbes.

Neves then scored Portugal’s eighth goal with a brilliant volley after receiving the ball from Veiga’s head.

Juventus forward Conceicao scored the ninth goal in stoppage time, securing one of the biggest wins in the country’s history.

In the other Group F match, Ireland secured a place in the play-offs with a convincing 3-2 win over Hungary.