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  • Portugal vs Uzbekistan, FIFA World Cup 2026 Highlights, 5-0: Ronaldo back with a double, leads Portugal to effortless win

And that is that. Portugal cruise to a 5-0 victory, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice to lead the way. A dominant performance from start to finish secures all three points.

In the final seconds of added time, Ronaldo is played through inside the box but can’t make proper contact, stretching to guide the ball wide down the right side. His effort is also flagged offside, sparing his blushes as the chance goes begging.

We are into added time with five minutes added on and Portugal still in full control at 5-0. Uzbekistan are simply seeing the game out at this stage, while Portugal continue to manage possession comfortably as the clock runs down.

Nélson Semedo makes a strong run from right-back and pulls the ball back into space, finding Rafael Leão arriving from the left. Leão finishes the move calmly to make it 5-0 for Portugal.

Rafael Leão finds the net shortly after being introduced, adding a fifth goal for Portugal in the closing stages.

Rafael Leão comes on to replace Vitinha. Nuno Mendes delivers a cross that is deflected behind by an Uzbekistan defender, giving Portugal a corner.

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João Neves and João Félix are replaced by Francisco Trincão and Bernardo Silva for Portugal. For Uzbekistan, Igor Sergeev comes on for Abbosbek Fayzullaev as both sides make late changes.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins the ball inside the box and looks set for a hat-trick, but Abduvokhid Nematov reacts brilliantly to keep out his effort towards the bottom corner. Moments later, Ronaldo is again denied from close range as the keeper stands firm.

Cristiano Ronaldo is fed by Nélson Semedo and creates space with a sharp reverse run, but his curling effort goes just wide of the far post. Portugal quickly regain possession and keep pushing forward, with Uzbekistan forced deep as they try to contain the pressure.

Second hydration break of the match with Portugal still in full control at 4-0, while Uzbekistan try to regroup.

João Félix is taken off after a lively performance and is replaced by Francisco Trincão. Portugal continue to rotate comfortably with a commanding 4-0 lead.

A chaotic corner leads to Portugal’s fourth as João Félix gets the initial flick at the near post before Abdukodir Khusanov turns it into his own net. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was down after a heavy collision moments earlier, is now back on his feet and appears to be okay.

Bruno Fernandes opts against shooting and instead lifts a clever ball into the box for Cristiano Ronaldo, who makes the run but sees his effort saved by Abduvokhid Nematov. The keeper also clatters into Ronaldo in the process, but Uzbekistan clear the danger.

Portugal win a free-kick over 30 yards out after Cristiano Ronaldo is brought down. Bruno Fernandes immediately protests to the referee, pointing to the challenge, but the decision stands as just a foul.

Otabek Shukurov gets a shot away from the edge of the box, but it takes a touch off a Portugal defender and goes just wide for a corner. A brief moment of danger as Uzbekistan try to respond.

João Félix finds space around 30 yards out, turns and unleashes a powerful shot that just lacks the dip to stay under the bar. A lively start to the second half with Portugal nearly adding a fourth.

The countdown is over and the second half is underway, with Portugal restarting play after a dominant first half.

The half-time whistle goes with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice to put Portugal firmly in charge. Three goals in total for the side, with Uzbekistan left needing a big response after a dominant opening 45 minutes.

João Cancelo delivers another dangerous cross into the box and Cristiano Ronaldo produces a clever dinked finish, but Abdukodir Khusanov gets back brilliantly to clear it off the line. Ronaldo comes close to a first-half hat-trick as Portugal continue to threaten.

— selecaoportugal (@selecaoportugal)

Bruno Fernandes threads a perfect pass down the right, releasing Cristiano Ronaldo in stride. The captain races through and finishes calmly into the bottom-left corner to extend Portugal’s lead to 3-0 with another clinical strike.

Azizat Ganiev fires in a powerful long-range effort that initially beats the goalkeeper, but Portugal immediately appeal for a foul on João Cancelo in the buildup. After a VAR review, the referee rules the challenge illegal and the goal is disallowed, keeping Portugal’s 2-0 lead intact.

Portugal return from the hydration break still looking dangerous from set pieces, with Ronaldo’s goal remaining their only open-play strike so far. The early patterns are clear, with well-worked routines causing problems and Uzbekistan needing to stay alert.

Pedro Neto is brought down right on the edge of the box, with Cristiano Ronaldo stepping up to take the attention from the set-piece. He draws the defence in with his run-up, acting as if he will take it, before leaving it cleverly for Nuno Mendes to finish the move and score. A smart, unselfish routine from Ronaldo and Portugal double their lead.

Ronaldo gets on the end of a well-placed cross and makes no mistake from close range, finishing confidently to give Portugal an early lead. The captain celebrates with his teammates as Portugal’s bright start is rewarded. He also becomes the only player to score in six consecutive World Cups, adding another landmark moment to his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo comes agonisingly close to meeting a brilliant delivery from Nuno Mendes, but just misses out in the middle. A dangerous early ball into the box from the left had Uzbekistan scrambling, with Portugal already looking sharp in attack.

The Group K clash is underway as Portugal and Uzbekistan get their campaign rolling in this fixture. Both sides start with intent after a cautious opening phase, with Portugal looking to assert control early through their attacking trio, while Uzbekistan stay compact and ready to hit on the break. The atmosphere is lively as the match begins to open up.

Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix start together in a 4-2-3-1 setup, bringing a more familiar attacking structure for Portugal. In the opening 1-1 draw against DR Congo, Roberto Martínez used Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto behind Ronaldo, which left the attack looking slightly disconnected and lacking clear link-up patterns. Félix was an unused substitute in that match, remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes. He now comes in on the left, drifting inside to support Ronaldo centrally, similar to their roles at Al-Nassr where Ronaldo leads as striker and Félix operates as a wide forward or second striker. This change adds natural chemistry, quicker combinations, and more direct movement in the final third compared to the previous match.

Cristiano Ronaldo is going through plenty of close-range shooting in the warm-up, finding the net repeatedly with both feet. Fans behind the goal are reacting to every strike like it’s a real goal, adding to the atmosphere ahead of kickoff.

Cristiano Ronaldo gets another chance to open his account at this World Cup, with several of the game’s biggest stars already among the goals. The Portugal captain scored just once at Qatar 2022 against Ghana and will be looking to silence questions around his form with a strong showing today.

— _UzbekFootball (@_UzbekFootball)

Uzbekistan have named a strong XI as they look to respond after defeat to Colombia in their opening match. Eldor Shomurodov leads the line and captains the side in a 3-4-3 setup, supported by Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Aziz Ganiev in attack. Abduvohid Nematov starts in goal behind a back three of Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev and Rustam Ashurmatov, with Otabek Shukurov anchoring midfield alongside Odiljon Khamrobekov.

Uzbekistan starting XI (3-4-3): Abduvohid Nematov; Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Rustam Ashurmatov; Bekhruz Karimov, Otabek Shukurov, Odiljon Khamrobekov, Sherzod Nasrullaev; Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Eldor Shomurodov (c), Aziz Ganiev.

Substitutes: Boritali Egashev, Utkir Yusupov, Avazbek Ulasmaliev, Jakhongir Urozov, Khoziakbar Alidzhanov, Akmal Mozgovoy, Azizbek Amonov, Dostonbek Khamdamov, Farrukh Sayfiev, Oston Urunov, Sherzod Esanov, Umar Eshmuradov, Igor Sergeev, Jamshid Iskandarov, Ruslanbek Jiyanov.

— selecaoportugal (@selecaoportugal)

Portugal have made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with DR Congo in their World Cup opener. Ruben Dias returns to the starting lineup after missing the opening match, while João Félix comes into the attack. Bernardo Silva and Tomás Araújo drop to the bench as Roberto Martinez looks for Portugal’s first win of the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo once again leads the line, supported by João Félix and Pedro Neto, with Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and João Neves forming a star-studded midfield trio.

Portugal starting XI (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes; Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Vitinha; Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix, Pedro Neto.

Substitutes: Sá, Rui Silva, Semedo, Araújo, Dalot, Inácio, Samú Costa, Nunes, Bernardo Silva, Neves, Ramos, Trincão, Leão, Guedes, Conceição

Portugal entered the FIFA World Cup as one of the favourites but now find themselves under unexpected pressure after drawing 1-1 with DR Congo. The result was viewed as one of the biggest surprises of the opening round and has left Roberto Martínez's men needing a strong response against Uzbekistan. Another disappointing result would complicate their path to the knockout stages ahead of a potentially decisive encounter with Colombia.

Portugal possess one of the strongest squads in the competition, yet they failed to translate possession into chances during the opener. The expectation is clear: three points are a necessity. Anything less would raise serious questions about Portugal's credentials and leave their World Cup campaign facing an early challenge.

Cristiano Ronaldo walks into Portugal's crucial Group K clash against Uzbekistan with plenty of attention on his shoulders. The 41-year-old captain endured a difficult outing against DR Congo, managing just 25 touches and failing to register a shot on target despite playing the full match. More importantly, Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive appearances in major tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, without finding the net.

For a player who built his reputation on delivering in the biggest moments, the statistic has become a major talking point. Portugal still believe in their all-time leading scorer, but another quiet performance could increase scrutiny as the pressure mounts on both Ronaldo and Roberto Martínez's side.

Uzbekistan may have lost their World Cup opener against Colombia, but they will take confidence from DR Congo's performance against Portugal. The African side frustrated Roberto Martínez's men with disciplined defending and limited Portugal to just one shot on target.

Uzbekistan will be hoping to replicate that approach and make life equally difficult for the European giants. As World Cup debutants, they enter the contest without the burden of expectation and have little to lose.

Players such as Eldor Shomurodov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Abdukodir Khusanov provide genuine quality throughout the spine of the team. If they can remain organised defensively and stay in the contest for long periods, Uzbekistan may believe another surprise result is within reach.

Few teams in world football can boast a midfield as talented as Portugal's. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and João Neves are all capable of controlling possession and dictating the tempo of matches.

However, the opener against DR Congo highlighted a major concern. Despite enjoying long spells on the ball, Portugal struggled to create meaningful opportunities and rarely looked threatening in the final third. Their inability to convert dominance into chances became one of the biggest talking points after the match.

Against Uzbekistan, the midfield will need to be far more incisive. Creating space, increasing the tempo and supplying quality service to the forwards could prove decisive as Portugal seek a much-needed victory.

While criticism has followed Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal's opening draw, there are still reasons for optimism. Although he has not scored in his last 10 major tournament appearances, his broader international record remains impressive.

Ronaldo has found the net in six of his last nine matches for Portugal outside of major tournaments, proving he still possesses the ability to influence games. The veteran forward remains the country's all-time leading scorer with 143 goals in 229 appearances. Portugal's coaching staff continue to back their captain and believe his experience can make a difference when it matters most.

Against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo has an opportunity to silence critics and remind everyone why he remains one of football's biggest stars.

If Portugal are to secure victory, containing Eldor Shomurodov will be a key objective. The experienced striker has been the face of Uzbekistan's attack for several years and boasts an outstanding international record of 44 goals in 93 appearances. His movement, finishing ability and experience make him the team's most dangerous player in the final third.

Portugal are expected to dominate possession, but any defensive lapses could allow Shomurodov opportunities to punish them. With Uzbekistan likely to rely on quick transitions and counter-attacks, the veteran forward's role becomes even more important. Portugal's defenders will know that giving him space inside the penalty area could prove costly.

Portugal's defensive setup could receive a major boost if Rúben Dias returns to the starting lineup. The Manchester City defender missed the opening draw against DR Congo after Roberto Martínez confirmed he was not fully fit.

His absence was felt as Portugal struggled to impose themselves throughout the contest. Dias is widely regarded as one of the leaders of the squad and his presence often brings stability and organisation to the backline.

Beyond his defensive qualities, he also provides valuable leadership on the pitch. As Portugal look to bounce back from a disappointing start, all eyes will be on the team sheet to see whether Dias is fit enough to return for this crucial encounter.

Abdukodir Khusanov has emerged as one of Uzbekistan's most exciting talents and will once again be under the spotlight against Portugal. The defender's £40 million move to Manchester City elevated his profile significantly and highlighted the growing reputation he has earned across world football. Despite his young age, Khusanov has already become a key figure for both club and country.

Facing Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal's attack presents another major test of his abilities. His composure, physicality and reading of the game will be crucial if Uzbekistan are to keep Portugal at bay. A strong performance could further strengthen his standing as one of Asia's brightest defensive prospects.

Results matter at the World Cup, but performances often shape momentum. Portugal know that beating Uzbekistan alone may not be enough to convince critics after their disappointing opener. The draw against DR Congo exposed several weaknesses, particularly in attack, where the team struggled to create chances despite controlling possession.

Roberto Martínez will be hoping for a much more convincing display this time around. A dominant victory would not only improve Portugal's position in Group K but also restore confidence ahead of the final group-stage fixture against Colombia. For a squad packed with talent and ambition, this match represents an opportunity to make a statement and re-establish themselves among the tournament favourites.

Rúben Dias has moved to defend Cristiano Ronaldo amid growing discussion surrounding the captain's recent performances. Following Portugal's draw against DR Congo, criticism intensified due to Ronaldo's lack of impact and his ongoing goal drought at major tournaments. Dias, however, insisted the team remains unaffected by outside opinions.

The defender described the criticism as "noise" and stressed that such scrutiny has always been part of life with the national team. According to Dias, the players are fully focused on their objectives and not distracted by external debate. His comments reflect the unity within the Portugal camp as they attempt to move past a disappointing opener and focus on securing a crucial victory.

Unlike Portugal, Uzbekistan enter this contest with relatively little external pressure. The World Cup newcomers were beaten by Colombia in their opening match, but simply competing on football's biggest stage represents a significant achievement for the nation. That freedom could make them dangerous opponents.

Uzbekistan can approach the game with belief, knowing that expectations largely rest on Portugal's shoulders. If they remain compact defensively and frustrate the favourites early, nerves could begin to creep into the Portuguese camp.

The longer the match remains close, the more confidence Uzbekistan are likely to gain. For Portugal, avoiding that scenario will be essential if they are to prevent another uncomfortable evening.

It may only be the second group match, but the stakes already feel enormous for Portugal. The unexpected draw against DR Congo has ensured there is little margin for error as they prepare to face Uzbekistan. Victory would place Roberto Martínez's side back on course for qualification and ease concerns surrounding their opening performance.

However, another disappointing result could leave Portugal needing a positive outcome against Colombia in their final group-stage fixture. The pressure is heightened by expectations that Portugal should be competing for the trophy rather than battling to escape the group. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva all expected to play key roles, this could be one of the defining nights of Portugal's World Cup journey.

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Source: The Times of India