Portugal 3-2 Slovakia: Ronaldo nets brace to book their tickets to Euro 2024

Portugal completed the job of qualification via a 3-2 victory as they defeated Slovakia in Porto, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.

Match Report

Goncalo Ramos and a Ronaldo penalty had the hosts two goals up at half-time, and after David Hancko’s reply, Ronaldo made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute with his 125th international goal.

Stanislav Lobotka netted a second for Slovakia, who are second behind Portugal in Group J.

The forward continues to make history for his country and was honoured before the game for racking up 200 international caps.

Goncalo Ramos gave Roberto Martinez's side the lead after 18 minutes at the Estadio do Dragao before Ronaldo got his first, from the spot, 11 minutes later.

The strike extended the 38-year-old's already historic international goal tally which he first achieved in June 2021 after a brace against the Republic of Ireland took him two clear of Iran's Ali Daei.

Slovakia's David Hancko breached the Portugal goal for the first time in EURO quaifying deep into the second half before Ronalo grabbed his second after tapping in a low cross from former Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes.

The visitors got the final goal on a wet night in Porto through Stanislav Lobotka. But it was Portugal's night as they punched their ticket to next summer's tournament.

Ronaldo looked to have waved goodbye to the international scene following his lacklustre performance at the 2022 World Cup and subsequent move to the Saudi Pro League.

He has now scored seven goals in six appearances for his country this year and netted 73 of his 125 goals after his 30th birthday.

Martinez has won all seven matches as manager since taking over in January and will look to extend that record on Monday against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

14' ClOSE! Bruno’s shot saved by Goalkeeper!

18' GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Slovakia (Gonçalo Ramos)

25' Bruno's header too straight！

29' Penalty Goal! Portugal 2-0 Slovakia (Ronaldo)

31' Yellow Card! Pekarík booked

40' CLOSE! Ronaldo misses a golden chance!

43' CLOSE! Ramos hits the post

69' GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Slovakia (David Hancko)

72' GOAL! Portugal 3-1 Slovakia (Ronaldo)

80' GOAL! Portugal 3-2 Slovakia (Lobotka)

Line-ups

Portugal XI: Ronaldo, Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes, João Palhinha, Ruben Dias, Bernardo, Diogo Costa, Dalot, Leao, Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva

Subs: Patricio, Danilo Pereira, Otávio, Semedo, Jose Sa, Neves, Jota, Felix, Pedro Neto, Vitinha, Gonçalo Inácio, João Neves

Slovakia XI: Dubravka, Pekarík, Juraj Kucka, Robert Mak, Ivan Schranz, Skriniar, Lobotka, Duda, Vavro, David Hancko, Róbert Bozeník

Subs: Norbert Gyomber, Lubomir Satka, Patrik Hrosovsky, Vernon De Marco, Benes, Marek Rodak, Henrich Ravas, Robert Polievka, Michal Tomic, David Duris, Tomas Suslov, Dominik Holly