Portugal 3-2 Slovakia: Cristiano Ronaldo at the double as Roberto Martinez’s side seal Euro 2024 qualification

Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice as Roberto Martinez’s side beat Slovakia 3-2 to seal their place at UEFA Euro 2024.

The Selecao came into this match knowing that after winning all of their previous six Euro 2024 qualifying matches, a win would see them qualify for Euro 2024 with three games to spare.

Bruno Fernandes had the first big chance of the match after 13 minutes, curling a brilliant effort on target from distance but Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka pulled off a stunning diving save to keep the game level.

Slovakia came within inches of taking the lead after 16 minutes when a deflected cross struck the crossbar but Portugal survived. Goncalo Ramos headed home Portugal’s first of the night after 18 minutes after some magnificent work from Fernandes to evade a challenge before delivering a perfect cross.

Ronaldo stepped up to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 30th minute following a Slovakia handball. Portugal missed a host of chances to further extend their lead in the first half, including Ramos rattling the post from close range and they had to make do with a 2-0 lead at the break.

Joao Cancelo missed a big chance for his side in the 69th minute and just seconds later Slovakia pulled one back. David Hancko’s effort from distance deflected off Antonio Silva and into the bottom corner past Diogo Costa. The Slovakia fightback didn’t last long though, with Portugal making it 3-1 just two minutes later thanks to a close-range finish from Ronaldo – his 125th goal for his country.

Slovakia weren’t done though and pulled another one back to make it 3-2 10 minutes from time thanks to a beautiful long-range effort from Stanislav Lobotka. It made for a much nervier ending for Portugal than it ever should have been given their dominance throughout the match but Martinez’s side got the result over the line and booked their place at Euro 2024.

Seven matches, seven wins, 27 goals, two goals conceded and qualification for UEFA Euro 2024 guaranteed. It’s easy to look at Portugal’s group and think that it’s one that they should coast but football simply does not work that way. In the past Portugal have struggled to look convincing in qualifiers, both for the Euros and the World Cup but this time around they have been really efficient under Roberto Martinez.

In Euro 2008 qualifying, Portugal finished second in the group. For Euro 2012, again they finished second in the group and in their most recent Euro qualifying campaign for Euro 2020, they again finished second – always doing enough to qualify as runners-up but not really making a statement.

This time around they have been brilliant and thoroughly professional.

Both Fernandes and CRonaldo put in terrific performances for Portugal but the former just edges it on this occasion. His intelligent cut-back and cross for his first assist of the night helped Goncalo Ramos open the scoring and settle any Portuguese nerves and his second assist of the night, a brilliant pass to the back post for Ronaldo, helped restore Portugal’s two-goal lead.

Fernandes was involved in everything good that Portugal did, he made five key passes, created three big chances and provided two assists as well as winning four of his duels and making two tackles. A great performance.

Portugal: Costa 6, Cancelo 6, Silva 6, Dias 6, Dalot 6, Palhinha 6, Bernardo 7, Fernandes 9, Leao 6, Ronaldo 8, Ramos 7 Subs: Felix 6, Otavio N/A, Neves N/A, Jota N/A

Slovakia: Dubravka 8, Hancko 7, Skriniar 6, Vavro 6, Pekarik 5, Kucka 6, Lobotka 7, Duda 6, Mak 6, Bozenik 6, Schranz 6 Subs: Suslov 6, Benes 6, Polievka 6, Tomic 6, Duris 6

18’ GOAL – PORTUGAL – Goncalo Ramos fires Portugal ahead after 18 minutes! Bruno Fernandes with a tremendous cross into the box and Ramos heads home!

29’ GOAL – PORTUGAL – Cristiano Ronaldo makes NO mistake from the penalty spot, sending Dubravka the wrong way and firing it into the bottom corner.

36’ WIDE FROM RONALDO! – Some absolutely brilliant play from Portugal, Leao’s pass finds Bernardo who sees his effort saved by Dubravka and Ronaldo misses the target with his follow up.

43’ RAMOS HITS THE POST! – Cristiano Ronaldo fires the ball across the face of goal and Ramos is at the back post to stick a leg out but his effort strikes the post.

69’ GOAL – SLOVAKIA – Hancko fires an effort from distance which takes a big deflection off Antonio Silva and finds its way into the bottom corner.

72’ GOAL – PORTUGAL – Cristiano Ronaldo restores Portugal’s two-goal lead with a fantastic goal! Bruno Fernandes delivers a low cross to the back post and Ronaldo was there to fire home.

80’ GOAL – SLOVAKIA – Slovakia have pulled another one back. Stanislav Lobotka lets fly from distance with a stunning effort which flies past Diogo Costa.

No team has scored as many goals in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying than Portugal’s 27.