Portugal 3-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes score in comfortable win
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Updated 17/06/2023 at 22:02 GMT
Portugal made it three wins from three in their UEFA European Championship Qualifying campaign after a 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The win follows successes over Liechtenstein and Luxembourg and leaves them top of Group J on nine points having scored 13 and conceded none. Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes got the goals at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal.
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Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes scored as Portugal eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Edin Dzeko missed a golden opportunity in the first half before Silva put Portugal ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Portugal nearly doubled their lead when Fernandes poked an effort over the bar from close-range.
But he made up for it minutes later when he steered Ruben Neves’ cross into the net with a brilliant header.
He netted a second deep into added time as he sent a sweet half-volley into the roof of the net.
The win maintains Portugal’s 100% record in qualifying after previous wins against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg
Dzeko had a great chance to find the opener but he blazed a volley from close range over the bar in a shaky moment for Portugal. Gojko Cimirot clipped a perfect cross into a completely unmarked Dzeko on the edge of the six-yard box, but he got his first-time effort all wrong.
Bernardo Silva took his exceptional club form into the break and put Portugal ahead on the stroke of half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo did well to protect possession in midfield and find Fernandes, who was able to slip the ball through for Silva to run onto and delicately dink the ball over Ibrahim Sehic.
In a similar situation to Dzeko, Fernandes squandered a chance as he too volleyed over from close-range unmarked, but unlike the Inter Milan striker, made up for it when he turned in a header from Ruben Neves’ inviting cross minutes later.
Diogo Jota came off the bench and was denied a goal with his first touch of the game when Sehic made an emphatic save from point-blank range.
But he was undone by more Fernandes quality. The ball dropped to Fernandes on the edge of the box and the midfielder struck a perfectly-executed half-volley to wrap up the match in Lisbon.
TALKING POINT - PORTUGAL ARE FLYING THROUGH THE QUALIFICATION
There’s no real competition in Group J for Roberto Martinez’s Portugal side, who have brushed aside every team they have faced so far. It’s been a relentless start to life as head coach for Martinez, who has seen his side score 13 goals without conceding in his first three matches.
They look to be well on their way to next summer’s European Championships and if they keep churning out performances like these, they’ll certainly be ones to keep an eye on in Germany.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - BRUNO FERNANDES (PORTUGAL)
Two goals and an assist for the Manchester United midfielder separated him from the rest as he orchestrated another thumping Portugal win.
On his day, Fernandes is unplayable. He produced the quality when it was needed to fire Portugal clear and strengthen their position in Group J.
PLAYER RATINGS
PORTUGAL: Costa 7, Cancelo 7, Danilo 8, Silva 7, Dias 7, Guerreiro 8, Fernandes 9, Palhinha 7, Silva 8, Ronaldo 7, Felix 6
Subs: Semedo 6, Otavio N/A, Neves 7, Jota N/A
BOSNIA: Sehic 6, Ahmedhodzic 6, Sanicanin 6, Kolasinac 6, Barisic 6, Dedic 6, Cimirot 7, Hadziahmetovic 6, Stevanovic 6, Dzeko 6, Pjanic 6
Subs: Gazibegovic 6, Prcic 6, Tahirovic 6, Varesanovic N/A, Hamulic 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
20’ - BALL IN THE NET! Ronaldo heads home a Cancelo cross from close range but the assistant referee has his flag up! No goal.
23’ - DZEKO FIRES OVER - Gojko Cimirot clips a perfect cross into a completely unmarked Dzeko on the edge of the six-yard box and the striker volley's the ball over the bar. What a chance for Bosnia!
44’ - GOAL! PORTUGAL 1-0 BOSNIA (SILVA) - Ronaldo does well to keep possession and lay the ball to Fernandes. He slips a pass through to Silva who dinks the ball over Sehic.
75’ - FERNANDES COMES CLOSE TO A SECOND! Ronaldo lifts the ball into Neves at the back post but he loses out in the air to Kolasinac. The ball falls to Fernandes in acres of space on the penalty spot, he brings it down with his chest and pokes a volley towards goal but it's over the bar. He was caught as he struck the ball but seems ok to continue.
77’ - GOAL! PORTUGAL 2-0 BOSNIA (FERNANDES) - Neves produces a brilliant cross for Fernades to head beyond Sehic from inside the six-yard box.
90’ - WHAT A STOP! Ronaldo squares the ball to Jota, who has just come on, and as you expect him to tap home Portugal's third, Sehic gets across his line really quickly and gets a strong hand to Jota's effort. You have to ask, how on earth has he not scored?
90’+3 - GOAL! PORTUGAL 3-0 BOSNIA (FERNANDES) - The ball drops on the edge of the box and the midfielder strikes a sweet half-volley into the roof of the net.
KEY STAT
- Portugal have scored 13 goals and conceded none in their first three qualifying games.
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