Fernandes Inspires Portugal to World Cup Qualification in Goal Fest
Portugal delivered a breathtaking performance, thrashing Armenia 9-1 at the Estadio do Dragao to officially book their ticket for the 2026 World Cup. In the absence of the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes stepped up magnificently, scoring a hat-trick to lead his nation to a resounding victory that erased the memory of a shock defeat days earlier.
A Stunning Response After Irish Setback
This emphatic display came just days after a disappointing 2-0 loss away to the Republic of Ireland, a match that saw Ronaldo sent off and subsequently suspended. Deployed in his favoured number 10 role, a position distinct from his deeper duties at Manchester United, Fernandes was the orchestrator of Armenia's downfall.
Portugal opened the scoring early through a Renato Veiga header in the seventh minute, but were momentarily stunned when Eduard Spertsyan equalised for the visitors eleven minutes later. The home side's quality soon told, however, as Goncalo Ramos restored the lead on the 28-minute mark before the floodgates opened.
The Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves Show
The match was defined by two incredible individual performances. Bruno Fernandes put the game beyond doubt with a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Ruben Dias was fouled. He added a second with a low strike just six minutes after the restart and completed his hat-trick with another penalty in the 72nd minute following a foul on Carlos Forbs.
Remarkably, Fernandes faced competition for the matchball from teammate Joao Neves, who also scored a hat-trick. Neves's impressive performance included a superb free-kick, contributing to a dominant second-half display. The scoring was rounded off in stoppage time by Francisco Conceicao with a powerful long-range strike.
Looking Ahead to North America
The comprehensive 9-1 victory ensures Portugal finishes at the summit of Group F with 13 points from their six qualifying matches. The team can now look forward with confidence to the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Speaking after the match, a delighted Joao Neves told RTP: "The most important thing was qualifying for the World Cup. For me, as I always say, the team always comes before the individual. I'm very happy to have scored my first goal for the national team, and my second and third as well." His sentiment perfectly captured a night where individual brilliance served a triumphant collective goal.
