[Applause] Well, Poland are without Robert Leandowski. A huge blow. It goes without saying. He’s been ruled out with a back injury. So, it’s a front line of Kristoff Pontk and Casper Abansski. Piokosski and Berosinsky come in on the right hand side of defense, whilst Teras Romanuk makes only his second competitive start in midfield. In Leandowski’s absence, Pota Jalinsky captains the side. He scored in the 3-1 loss in Warsaw. Nicholas Alfki is worth keeping tabs on. He’s delivered a series of eyecatching displays. [Music] [Applause] We are in Portugal’s second largest city for this one. [Applause] And we’re underway. Portugal against Poland. Match day five of the UEFA Nations League. Kior on the move. Here is Bogush. Away by Vega. Aansky picks it up. Kivor. Good cross. Good chance. And Barosinsky heads it straight at Romanuk. This could work out neatly for Pionek. Well held off though by Renato Vega. The crowd enjoyed that. Netto scooped into the middle. Great ball. And if anything, Silva and Fernandez got in each other’s way. [Applause] It’s a fabulous ball in. And you can see there Fernandez and Silva having an exchange. Bernardo Silva was waiting to pounce, but Fernandez sniffed an opportunity and went for it. Uski straight down the throat. Ever present in this nation’s league campaign. Liao looking to spin away. Plenty of white shirts on the retreat. Liao goes down and a free kick given Portugal’s way. He is a menace. Raphael Lea of Milan. [Music] Well, he was the meat in the sandwich. Pjovski and Roman Chuck. It’s Ronaldo. Mendes. Bruno Fernandez. Easily dealt with Romanuk. Good ball. Bogous is on his way. Pontรฉ is up there with him. That’s who he’s looking for. Good tracking back though from Antonio Silva. [Applause] Outside of the boot looking for Pon Aanski. Ronaldo gets a toe on it. Bruno Fernandez. Ronaldo. Was he caught? I think he may have been. It is going to be a free kick to the hosts. [Applause] But just a fraction too late with his ch. It’s Ronaldo and it sails over the bar. So often in the past we’ve seen him ripple the net from situations like that. Zilfki having a dip and Diego Costa forced into a smart save. [Applause] Well, Diego Costa kept honest here by Zilfki. Very confident player. Zeali have really Fernandez on the stretch. Cupor Portugal get the corner. So deep one. Vagger on the on the break here with Zilfki who puts it through the legs of Bernardo Silva. He’s got options to his left and his right. Berishinsky is one of them. And he’s got in here. Oh, brilliant defending from Nuno Mendes. Oh, the Polish bench. Can’t believe it. Brilliant play from Zilleski. It’s a terrific ball. A great run from Berishinsky who just tries to clip it across for Bouch. Now it’s Kaminsky onto Pontek. Pontรฉ. A whisker away. So far it is Poland who’ve carried the greater threat. Pontek holds off the challenge of Renato Vega and it just curved away right when it mattered. Oh, they’ve worked that beautifully. Bogous comes his way again. Jillinsky. The angle tight and deflected behind. They continue to carve out opportunities here. Poland. It was the boot of Dalow that diverted the ball behind. to clipped in. Too high for Ronaldo. Hooker is there and Ronaldo left something on him. [Applause] driven in deep. Raphael not picked up. Ronaldo picked up an injury for his troubles. Brilliant ball in. Liao just heads it back across. Ronaldo threatening to pounce. [Music] Bedar went with him. It is pretty clear what Ronaldo thinks about the attention he received there from Bedar. [Applause] Well, the referee calls time on the opening 45. Frustrating is the word. Ronaldo not happy. He’s taught himself into the book and if he’s not careful, he might not reappear if he continues the conversation in that manner. He clearly wanted a penalty having been challenged by Yan Bedar. Coming on for Poland is a senior international debut for Dominic Maruk. Matteas Bogos has made way for him. Sebastian Valeravic has come on for Yan Bedner who was struggling somewhat. Second half underway. Fenrik struggling after that challenge with Cristiano Ronaldo right at the end of the half. Antonio Silva feeding it wide for Netto. Netto’s cross easily claimed by Martin Bua. Foutinho Fernandez looking across the line. kept alive here by Dalow. [Applause] Switched the point of their attack to the right now and Netto. Bernardo Silva. Netto and Kivol in his way. And then it rebounded off Netto and behind for the goal kick. Here’s Liao. It’s Liao. Oh, Bua had it covered because he barely moved. Portugal trying to start on the front foot in the early stages of this second period. campaign leaves Portugal on the brink of the quarterfinals. Silva, Netto, Dalow’s up there with him, but it’s tossed in deep instead for Mendes. Gathered by Ronaldo, but had it taken. Ronaldo takes over. Liao asking far too much of Mendes. He covered a lot of ground to get up there. [Applause] The volume rises inside the stadium. Rolled on to Nuno Mendes. Teased in. Great ball and Raphael is there. Portugal on their way to the quarterfinals. [Applause] They are rewarded for a strong start to this second half. Lea starting the move and finishing it. From one end of the field to the other and Poland’s hopes of staying alive in the race for the quarterfinals are fading. Lao into Mendes. Measured to perfection and Raphael Lea plants the header beyond Marin Bua who’s had little to do thus far. [Applause] Disarray. Sebastian Shamansky was down to start but got injured in the warm-up. You saw Bogous start instead. Carol Suedeski wasn’t named among the substitutes to start with, but he is ready to come on. [Applause] Oh, Renato Vega’s on the scene all of a sudden. That was traveling and now he’s got clear of another one. Netto with the pull back gathered by Liao. Dalow Silva Betinho Dalow. Well, it cannon through. Bua made the save and the referee here has pointed to the spot for hand ball. Oh, Kio claiming it hit his chest. Belt. If he scores this, surely that will seal the deal for Portugal and they will take their place in the last eight. Ronaldo cheekily done. Straight down the middle. Portugal heading for the quarterfinals. The locals have got what they came to see. Cristiano Ronaldo getting another goal. He takes the acclaim. He takes the agilation. That penalty surely ends the dream for Poland. The seventh time that Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in this stadium for his country. His fourth in this nation’s league campaign. Dalo Ronaldo. Well, he goes down. The referee says, “No, not this time.” [Applause] Sorry, Cristiano, but that is not a penalty. Fernandez with the free kick and Ronaldo. Puts it over. That’s a great chance for him even if it did come at him quite late. Missed it. Ronaldo clears the crossbar. Ronaldo’s on the move. [Applause] Lovely touch. Netto. Netto pushed out by Bua. Fernandez. Ronaldo is hungry for more, but Fernandez goes himself and crashes it home. What a strike from Bruno Fernandez. He’s in a rich vein of form just now. And that adds further gloss to the score line. Emphatic from Bruno Fernandez. Some strike there. [Music] 3-0 Portugal. [Music] Zilfki twisting this way and that. Zeali still. This could be brilliant. But they couldn’t finish the job. What a run from Zilfki. It was BS’s final effort. Ronaldo. Infernato looking for number four. And he gets it. Ronaldo the provider. Neto the finisher. [Applause] And this has turned into a route. Portugal have flexed their muscles in this second period in Porto. Pedro Netto [Music] one back by Vetinho looking for number five. Vitiniah tossed in Ronaldo. [Applause] Classic Cristiano. He raises the score to five. Glim faces at one end of the stadium, but beaming smiles everywhere else. none bigger than that of Cristiano Ronaldo. Petinho stands it up and Ronaldo with the spectacular finish. A trademark finish from the main man. [Music] It’s Kib for Poland who still want to have a say in this game. Kosabal lost his footing. [Music] There’s the striking chance and Poland on the scoreboard. Diego Costa beaten down low. Dominic Maruk on his international debut. [Applause] They recycled it. Maruk through the legs of Vega and finds the bottom corner. Maybe Poland will have the last word. And Portugal take their place in the quarterfinals of the Nations League. And they do it in some style. Two goals for the main man, Cristiano Ronaldo. One of which came from the spot. Another a beautiful bicycle kick. Raphael Liao got it all started. Bruno Fernandez crashing in from range. An emphatic finish from Netto and a job well done for Roberto Martinez and his team. They have been head and shoulders above everyone
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