Record-breaker Ronaldo fires Portugal to 5-0 win over Uzbekistan

Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics in spectacular fashion, becoming the first player to score in six World Cups while netting twice in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 Group K rout of Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday.

After the match the 41-year-old shouted “I’m back, I’m back” into the television cameras — an outpouring after critics had questioned his place in the team following a goal-scoring drought that had extended to 10 matches in major finals.

Allowed time and space in the box, Ronaldo was deadly in punishing an outclassed Uzbekistan as he took his overall World Cup tally to 10 goals, moving past Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time leading marksman at the global finals.

Ronaldo said that, while he was happy to break records, the most important thing for him was the team’s improvement and the confidence the players showed after a frustrating first match.

“The team performed really well and improved a lot,” he said. “As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives.”

Portugal, who have four points from two games, face Colombia in their final Group K match, while Uzbekistan, teetering on the brink of elimination with no points, play DR Congo in their last outing.

EARLY INTENSITY

Portugal ramped up the intensity from the opening whistle as players seemed to want to make amends for the opening 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo as they moved the ball quickly up the pitch to create a host of chances.

Portugal created 17 attempts on goal with eight on target as players pushed forward throughout the match in search of a third goal for Ronaldo, who spurned a few good chances to bag a hat-trick.

Coach Roberto Martinez said the team — boasting attacking riches beyond Ronaldo — showed an improvement in decision-making and finishing against Uzbekistan.

“This was the response we had in the dressing room,” Martinez said. “There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament.

“Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match.”

Ronaldo’s first goal in the sixth minute was a neat finish from six yards at the near post as he converted Joao Cancelo’s low cross, before placing Bruno Fernandes’ perfect pass into the far corner.

The clearly relieved striker raced to the sidelines after opening his account where his teammates mobbed him while coach Martinez sat back with a smile as Portugal players celebrated.

Nuno Mendes scored a superb free kick in between those two strikes, fooling Uzbekistan keeper Abduvohid Nematov – and the entire stadium – by taking the set piece while Ronaldo acted as a decoy.

Uzbekistan thought they had cut the lead after the first hydration break but Azizjon Ganiev’s superb effort was disallowed for a foul on Cancelo following a VAR check.

In the second half an unfortunate Nematov fumbled the ball into his own net and Rafael Leao added a late fifth in front of a full house of 68,777 fans as Portugal controlled play but stepped off the pedal slightly with the game in hand.

Munoz strike sends Colombia into World Cup Round of 32

Daniel Munoz fired Colombia into the World Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday, sealing a 1-0 win over DR Congo in Group K after goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had threatened to turn the match into a night of frustration.

Munoz struck the winner from the right side of the penalty area in the 76th minute, finally beating Mpasi who had repeatedly denied Colombia with an inspired performance.

Colombia, who opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, commanded possession and created numerous chances.

James Rodriguez, making his 10th World Cup appearance to equal the Colombian record jointly held by Freddy Rincon and Carlos Valderrama, forced Mpasi into action with a powerful strike in the 11th minute.

The goalkeeper stood firm, repelling efforts from Jhon Arias and winger Luis Diaz, who came close to breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute, controlling a chipped pass inside the penalty area, turning smartly, and firing a shot goalwards, only for Mpasi to save with his foot.

The African side, buoyed by their opening 1-1 draw with Portugal, threatened sporadically through Edo Kayembe, Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa but lacked a clinical finish.

By halftime, Colombia had registered 15 shots, including six on target, with nine of their 10 outfield players attempting efforts.

In the stands, DR Congo had support from Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, the team’s famous “living statue” fan, who made his World Cup debut after missing the opener against Portugal because of Ebola quarantine requirements.

Colombia resumed on the front foot after the break, Diaz forcing another fine save from Mpasi in the 51st minute before Arias dragged the rebound wide.

Wissa almost snatched the lead for DR Congo in the 73rd minute when his shot from Simon Banza’s assist was blocked, but Colombia struck shortly after through Munoz.

“Just because I scored the goal doesn’t mean I’m the hero. I belong to everyone; we’re all in this together. We secured the three points as a team, as Colombia; here, we’re one family,” Munoz told Colombian TV.

Diaz later thought he had doubled the advantage with a finish into the top corner, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

“Against a team like that, you have to find the spaces between the lines; if you play too predictably, they press you and hit you on the counter-attack,” Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said.

Colombia moved to six points from two matches and guaranteed their progress to the knockout stage ahead of their final group game against Portugal, who beat Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier on Tuesday.

DR Congo remained on one point and will need a result against Uzbekistan to keep their qualification hopes alive.