Cristiano Ronaldo ended a ten-match scoring drought in major tournaments with two first-half goals as Portugal demolished Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston to seize control of World Cup Group K. The 41-year-old striker was only available after FIFA postponed the remaining two games of his three-match suspension, and he exploited the opportunity ruthlessly against a defence marshalled by former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro.
Ronaldo required merely six minutes to announce his presence, timing his run perfectly to meet João Cancelo’s near-post cutback and dispatch a crisp half-volley. The strike settled early nerves for Roberto Martínez’s side, who had faced criticism following an unconvincing opening result.
Portugal’s second goal arrived in the 17th minute after Pedro Neto was fouled on the edge of the area. Ronaldo, having assumed his characteristic preparatory stance, surprised observers by stepping aside for Nuno Mendes, who curled a precise free-kick past goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.
The former Manchester United forward claimed his second in the 39th minute, collecting a measured pass from Bruno Fernandes and converting from a tight angle to establish a 3-0 advantage at the interval.
Second-half procession
The pattern continued after the restart. Fernandes’ low, inswinging corner caused confusion in the Uzbekistan six-yard box, resulting in an own goal—credited by some reports to defender Abdukodir Khusanov and by others to Nematov—that effectively extinguished any prospect of a recovery.
Uzbekistan were denied even a consolation when Azizjon Ganiev’s spectacular long-range strike was ruled out by VAR; replays showed Abbosbek Fazyullaev had fouled Cancelo during the build-up. The decision preserved Diogo Costa’s clean sheet and Portugal’s dominance.
Rafael Leão provided the finishing touch in the closing stages, driving a rising shot into the net to complete the rout and send Portugal temporarily to the summit of Group K.
Qualification picture
The emphatic victory significantly strengthens Portugal’s position ahead of the final group fixture. For Uzbekistan, coached by Cannavaro, the defeat leaves their fate dependent upon the outcome of the subsequent match between Colombia and DR Congo.
Martínez will hope the performance signals a genuine upturn in form rather than merely the benefit of facing inferior opposition, with sterner tests awaiting in the knockout rounds should qualification be confirmed.