Bruno Fernandes scored twice to offer Portugal a 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Monday and ship them into the knock-out phases of the World Cup alongside France and Brazil. The Manchester United midfielder scored a cross-cum-shot 9 minutes into the second half after which added an injury-time penalty following a handball by Jose Maria Gimenez. The match at Doha’s spectacular 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium additionally featured the primary pitch invader of the Qatar event — the person carried messages of assist for Ukraine and Iranian girls and had a rainbow flag.

With Portugal already by way of, Uruguay should now beat Ghana of their remaining Group H match to face any probability of additionally progressing.

Both sides made three adjustments from their opening matches, with Portugal bringing in veteran Pepe for the injured Danilo Pereira, who suffered cracked ribs in coaching.

Pepe turned the third-oldest outfield participant in World Cup historical past.

Portugal dominated the primary half, hogging the ball and creating a number of probabilities, however with out ever testing Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.

Uruguay’s forwards, Edinson Cavani and Darwin Nunez had been starved of the ball however the South Americans nonetheless had the perfect alternative of the primary interval.

Rodrigo Bentancur picked the ball up in his personal half and surged forwards, slipping between two defenders to seek out himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who unfold himself effectively to save lots of the midfielder’s shot.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was largely nameless within the first 45 minutes however did delight followers with a shoulder go to pick William Carvalho, who volleyed over.

Pitch invader

The primary drama got here after the break.

Moments after a pitch invader ran onto the pitch carrying an LGBTQ rainbow flag and with a message supporting Ukraine and Iranian girls on his T-shirt, solely to be spectacularly tackled by safety, Portugal went in entrance.

Fernandes created area for himself on the left and curled an inswinging cross into the mixer, with Ronaldo breaking the offside entice to try a glancing header.

As the ball nestled within the objective, Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration however FIFA determined he had not touched the ball, thus denying him a ninth World Cup objective, which might have put him degree with Portuguese nice Eusebio.

Uruguay coach Diego Alonso threw on forwards Maxi Gomez and Luis Suarez because the South Americans belatedly started to exert some strain, and each got here near an equaliser.

Gomez’s rasping drive from 20 yards got here again off the put up with Costa crushed, whereas Suarez hit the facet netting from shut vary.

With the 90 minutes virtually up, Fernandes nutmegged Gimenez, whose trailing hand diverted the ball away from the midfielder and prevented him from discovering himself one-on-one with Rochet.

Iranian referee Alireza Faghani awarded the spot-kick after a VAR verify and Fernandes despatched Rochet the incorrect approach after his signature hop, skip run-up.

He then virtually accomplished a hat-trick however hit the put up from 20 yards.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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