This was always charged as Ronaldo shows, a triumphant procession for a fifth World Cup and two goals from his Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes ensured that he went according to plan. Portugal, a nation with fleeting football success for decades, has not failed to reach a major event in Ronaldo’s time. He made his debut in 2003 and this will lead him to double digits assuming that his 37-year-old body will not suffer any setbacks for the next eight months. Once there, he rarely fails to make his mark, from the agony of losing at home and turning a blind eye to Wayne Rooney to the moths on a glorious night in Paris, the coca bottles in Budapest and the achievements of the Euro world record. 2020. A crossbar from Bruno Fernandes (left) ensures that Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Shaw head for Qatar Fernandes (middle) punctured in the opener after half an hour, having been tired of Ronaldo The veteran superstar prepares to play in the fifth World Cup for Portugal later this year It was a distressing defeat for Northern Macedonia a few days after they surprised Italy in Palermo On Tuesday night, Fernandes settled the game with one goal in each half, but Ronaldo’s name was heard as they closed the qualification. Qatar in November will definitely present him with the last chance to claim the biggest prize in international football. His powers weaken even if he remains influential. Fernando Santos has no shortage of talent to gather around him, although there have been times in the final stages of this qualifying campaign where the responsibility of bringing Ronaldo over the line seemed to play on the nerves of the Portuguese. They overcame their lines against Serbia, overcame Turkey in the first play-off draw, but made some progress with a bit of a fuss against Northern Macedonia, the Italian conquerors, last week. This would always be Ronaldo’s night and he almost broke the score in the early stages He pulled his shot out but while he did not score, his influence is evident in this group
MATCH DETAILS
Portugal: Costa, Cancello, Danilo Pereira, Pepe, Mendes, Fernandes (88 Nunes), Moutinho (Ferriera 90 + 1), Otavio (Carvalho 77), Ronaldo, Giotta (Leo 77), B. Silva (Felix 88).
Unused secondary: Patricio, A Silva, Jose Sa, Guedes, Fonte, Guerreiro, Cedric.
Goals: Fernandes (32, 65)
Reservation: Cancelo
Northern Macedonia: Dimitrievski, Stefan Ristovski, Musliu, Velkovski, Alioski, Elmas (Nikolov 87), Bardhi, Ademi, Trajkovski (Churlinov 59), Milan Ristovski (Miovski 46), Kostadinov (Ashkovski 75).
Unused secondary: Todoroski, Naumovski, Spirovski, Serafimov, Dorian Babunski, David Babunski, Siskovski, Ristevski.
Reservation: Alioski, Mousliou
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
The fans of Portugal if not the team took the departure of the Azzurri as a positive sign for their own ambitions.
More than 48,000 gathered at the stadium on the banks of the Douro, waving flags and wearing flashing ribbons with tufts of green and red hair. There were golden balloons full of sun, circling like at a children’s birthday party, writing CR7 and Ronaldo Dolores’s mother was at home.
The Mexican waves fell in the bowl and despite the warning about the threat of Northern Macedonia, the mood for a party before the match was strengthened because the Italians were not invited.
Veteran Pepe excelled at the heart of the defense after his return from Covid-19, and Diogo Giotta shone and created a great early chance for Ronaldo.
Jota’s pass passed between two defenders in white shirts and Ronaldo’s low shot was clear but inaccurate. Jota also went close with a header in the middle of the first half.
Northern Macedonia has created little, other than launching threateningly out of defense in some cases.
Former Leeds left-back Ezjan Alioski whistled an out in the first half, but barely forced goalkeeper Diogo Costa to repel. Santos’ team controlled the tempo and dominated the occupation.
Fernandes rushed to a homeless pass on the field from the right back of the leader of Northern Macedonia, Stefan Ristovski, exchanged passes with Ronaldo and succeeded for the first time in the return.
He ran under Dimitrievski’s feet, nestled in the net and the relief was felt as Fernandes slipped on his knees celebrating. It does not always shine for the club or the country in the presence of Ronaldo, and yet that was a valuable contribution.
Fernandes presented a clinical picture as he connected perfectly with Ronaldo in the attack
Manchester United team-mates will hope to bring this show back to Old Trafford
“Everyone has ambitions, Cristiano and I are no exception,” Fernandes said. “He usually scores assists too, but today it was the other way around.”
His second was another sure and clinical end to the end of a sweeping off-defense move that started with another of Pepe’s tackles. Yota took a cross from the left and Fernandez came to meet him at halftime volley.
The final whistle sparked an honorary round led by Ronaldo and Pepe, the group’s top politicians, another shocking rendition of the national anthem and fireworks on the street.
“The most important thing is to help the team,” said Fernandez. “If it can be with goals, with even greater pleasure. The fans were impeccable. The atmosphere was impressive. People realized what we needed.
“The goal was achieved, that was the most important thing for us. “Portugal had better performances, but that will be remembered because we reached the World Cup.”
Portugal, like everyone else, will dream. “The dream is possible for everyone,” said Pepe, 39. “We have a lot of quality. “I feel very privileged to be part of this team.”
Delete Ronaldo in danger. And busy FIFA players can start thinking of ways to secure coca bottles.
Inevitably, United’s interim boss Ralph Rangnick was an interested observer of this tie.
Check out Sportsmail’s live blog for updates on Tuesday’s crucial European play-off finals, with Portugal facing Northern Macedonia and Poland facing Sweden.
