Even without Ronaldo, Portugal cruise 3-0 against Azerbaijan

Sports Desk, Sep 7 (EFE).- Missing captain Cristiano Ronaldo to suspension, Portugal rolled 3-0 over Azerbaijan on Tuesday to take the lead in Group A of the European qualifiers for World Cup 2022.

The result in Baku boosted Portugal to 13 points from five matches. Serbia, second in the group with 10 points, will play their fifth game later Tuesday against fourth-place Ireland.

With only 32 percent possession, the hosts failed to muster a single shot on target, while the visitors transformed three of their seven chances into goals.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos tapped Andre Silva to fill the spot left vacant by the absence of Ronaldo, who decided to make the best of his suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards by joining Manchester United earlier than expected.

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva got the party started, scoring in the 26th minute with an assist from Man United’s Bruno Fernandes.

Five minutes later, Andre Silva made it 2-0 with help from Liverpool man Diogo Jota, who added the third goal in the 76th minute after squandering multiple opportunities. EFE cgg/dr