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Rabat – Portugal has qualified for the 2022 World Cup’s quarter-finals after defeating Switzerland 6-1 on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium.
Goncalo Ramos scored for Portugal at the 17th minute. The goal was the 21 year-old striker’s first goal for his national team.
Portuguese defender Pepe widened the lead in the 33rd minute, putting the ball in Switzerland’s net after an assist from Bruno Fernandes.
Shortly after the second half started, Ramos managed to score a second goal for himself and a third for Portugal in the 51st minute, making it almost certain that his team would have a spot in the tournament’s top eight.
Raphael Guerreiro added to the team’s strong position even further in the 55th minute, after a gap in the Swiss defense left it open for a Portuguese counter-attack.
Manuel Akanji scored for Switzerland in the 58th minute, but it was little more than a consolation goal at the end.
Ramos then impressed again, scoring at the 67th minute meaning the player achieved a hat-trick during his first international appearance at the world’s biggest football stage.
Rafael Leao widened the lead even more in the second half’s stoppage time, adding to the Switzerland team’s wounds as they exit the competition at the round of 16.
As the game started, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was noticeably absent from his team’s starting 11. Rumors had been circulating recently around the player, as reports claimed he was set to move to Saudi club Al-Nassr in 2023.
Portugal will face Morocco in the quarter-finals, after the Atlas Lions beat Spain on penalty shootouts. Morocco held Spain to a goalless draw for 120 minutes, before beating them 3-0 in the shootout.
Morocco will be looking to make history as the first Arab and African team to make the semi-finals on Saturday, and will undoubtedly give their opponents a good fight.
