Portugal have qualified for Euro 2020 with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 99th international goal after a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Luxembourg.
Bruno Fernandes’ first-half strike (39’) proved to be the decisive goal before Ronaldo scored a toe-poke on the goalline four minutes from time in a game where many expected the 34-year-old to take his international goal total to 100.
Portugal struggled to get into a rhythm on a sticky pitch in Luxembourg, with the hosts almost taking the lead in the 25th minute when Gerson Rodrigues’ header from a corner hit the roof of the net.
It took the visitors until six minutes from half-time to break the deadlock when Fernandes latched onto a spectacular long ball from Bernardo Silva, driving the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the box.
The second half was scrappy with Portugal nervous and Luxembourg proving resilient. Nevertheless Portugal extended their lead through Ronaldo who finished off the simplest of chances when substitute Diogo Jota’s shot was parried into his path on the goalline.
The important victory secured the European champions’ place at next year’s European Championships.
Euro 2020 Results:
Serbia 2-2 Ukraine
Luxembourg 0-2 Portugal
