Slovakia 0-1 Portugal: Bruno Fernandes goal keeps Roberto Martínez’s side perfect in Euro 2024 qualifying

Unbeaten Portugal continued their inexorable march towards the Euro 2024 finals courtesy of a 1-0 win against a battling Slovakia in Bratislava.

The visitors were struggling to discover a cutting edge until Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes raced into the home area before smashing a venomous low shot into the corner of the net on 43 minutes.

Slovakia will perhaps rue failing to earn at least a point with Lukás Haraslín clipping a post moments before Portugal moved ahead.

Ivan Schranz also knocked wide from inside the visiting box on 58 minutes when an equaliser seemed likely.

Cristiano Ronaldo could not find the vital second goal for his country and was fortunate to avoid a red card when he was booked for a late lunge that saw him catch home goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with a flying boot on 62 minutes.

Roberto Martinez’s side lead Group J with an unblemished 15 points from five matches as they move to the brink of qualification and have yet to concede a goal before they host Luxembourg in the Algarve on Monday.

The Portugal captain will miss the visit of Luxembourg after picking up a yellow card for his challenge on Martin Dubrvaka in the second half.

He could not finish with a poor first touch and compounded the error by swiping at the loose ball as the Slovakia ‘keeper came to collect with the ball clearly within his grasp. .

The Al Nassr forward endured a nervy wait before VAR decided a booking was enough, but when you study the replays of his rash challenge, a sending off for dangerous play would hardly have been absurd.

With his country struggling for inspiration, he produced a quite majestic piece of play just before half-time to slam the winner into the corner of the net.

Was also involved in a several key moves at the heart of the action that could have provided Portugal with a more comfortable finish to the evening as they clung to a one-goal lead in the second half.

But in the end, a timely goal and triumph to celebrate his 29th birthday.

Slovakia: Martin Dúbravka 7, Milan Skriniar 6, Denis Vavro 6, David Hancko 6, Peter Pekarik 7, Stanislav Lobotka 6, Ondrej Duda 6, Juraj Kucka 6, Róbert Polievka 6, Lukas Haraslin 7, Ivan Schranz 6 Subs: Patrik Hrosovsky 6, László Bénes 6, Róbert Bozeník 6, David Duris 6, Tomas Suslov 6

Portugal: Diogo Costa 7, António Silva 7, Rúben Dias 7, João Cancelo 7, Diogo Dalot 7, João Palhinha 7, Bruno Fernandes 8, Bernardo Silva 7, Cristiano Ronaldo 7, Rafael Leão, Vitinha 6 Subs: Nélson Semedo 6, Otávio 6, Pedro Neto 6

43′ SO CLOSE FOR SLOVAKIA! – Lukás Haraslín clips the outside of a post from the cutback by Peter Pekarik inside the box. Fine play by the blue shirts. Warning signs are there for Portugal.

43′ GOAL FOR PORTUGAL! – Bruno Fernandes races into the area before drilling his 16th international goal low and hard into the corner of the net. That is supreme quality from the Manchester United captain. Fabulous finish.

58′ ANOTHER GOLDEN CHANCE FOR SLOVAKIA! – Ivan Schranz on the run deep into the home area, but ends up flicking the finish a few yards wide under pressure as Costa came off his line to narrow the angle. Ondrej Duda with the pass in playing provider.

62′ RONALDO CATCHES THE ‘KEEPER – Vitinha with a cross into the area. Poor first touch by Ronaldo as he misses the volley and he compounds the error by catching Dubravka late. A poor late challenge going for the loose ball. And he is going to be booked.

78′ RONALDO WITH CHANCE TO CLINCH THE WIN – But he drills the shot straight at Dubravka when you fancied him to finish off Slovakia on the counter attack.

• Slovakia have played Portugal five times since 1998 and have yet to win a match, suffering four defeats and earning a draw at home in 2005 during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.