Portugal secure biggest win in over 4 years with thumping victory over Andorra
Portugal earned a comfortable 7-0 victory over minnows Andorra in a friendly fixture in Lisbon, their biggest win since defeating Estonia in a friendly fixture in June 2016 by the same scoreline.
Portugal handed debuts to three players, with Granada defender Domingos Duarte, Wolves forward Pedro Neto and Braga striker Paulinho all starting the match, and Neto was quick to find the back of the net and open his international account, smashing home from close range after Sergio Oliveira cushioned the ball to him to put his side 1-0 up in the opening 10 minutes.
It ensured that the Wolves winger became the first player born in the 2000s to not only start for the senior Portugal national team, but to also score for the reigning European champions, which is testament to how highly regarded he is despite his young age.
Paulinho then matched the exploits of his young compatriot, also scoring on his debut with a tidy finish from a low Nelson Semedo cross to the near post.
That was how the score remained going into half time - but the floodgates opened after the break upon the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva, with Renato Sanches quickly adding his name to the scoresheet, getting on the end of a perfect Ronaldo pass before slotting beyond the Andorra goalkeeper.
Paulinho grabbed his second goal of the game - and of his senior international career - only a little later, with an excellent bullet header that was destined to cannon off the back of the net.
Portugal’s fifth came through an own goal; a Bernardo Silva pass was on track to find Ronaldo, but before it arrived at the 35-year old’s feet, it came off Andorra’s Miramontes and crossed the goal-line.
But Ronaldo, having been surprisingly wasteful in front of goal upon coming on as a substitute at half time, finally managed to get his 102nd international goal in the 85th minute, bundling in with his close-range header from a Mario Rui cross to give Portugal a strong 6-0 lead.
There was still time to extend their advantage further, with Joao Felix smashing home with an acrobatic effort just two minutes from time.
Portugal were unable to match their biggest win in history - having defeated Kuwait and Liechtenstein (twice) by an 8-0 margin, but will be content with having been ruthless in a match they fully dominated - with 83% of the possession - and were always expected to win.
Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo author: Chensiyuan. License link.
