Portugal 9-1 Armenia: Bruno & Joao Neves hat-tricks help secure World Cup spot

  /  R47

Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves both scored hat-tricks as Portugal secured their place at the 2026 World Cup in emphatic fashion by thrashing Armenia.

A surprise loss to the Republic of Ireland in their last match - during which captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off - meant they needed to win on Sunday to be assured of qualification.

They made the ideal start when Renato Veiga headed home early on following a free-kick by Manchester United midfielder Fernandes.

Eduard Spertsyan equalised for Armenia with a close-range finish in the 18th minute, but from then on Portugal took control.

Goncalo Ramos slotted home 10 minutes later before Neves swept in and then got his second of the game from a free-kick.

Portugal scored a fifth on the stroke of half-time when Ruben Dias was fouled inside the box and Fernandes rolled home the penalty.

The scoring continued in the second half as Fernandes fired home with a low strike then converted again from the spot after Carlos Forbs was fouled.

Neves got his third and Portugal's eighth when he steered the ball home from the middle of the box, before Francisco Conceicao drilled in with seconds remaining to wrap up the big win.

Line-ups

Portugal XI: Cancelo, Semedo, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Costa, Leao, Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, João Neves, Renato Veiga

Subs: Rui Silva, Jose Sa, Neves, Palhinha, Dalot, Francisco Trincão, Felix, Matheus Nunes, Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Inácio, Carlos Forbs, António Silva

Armenia XI: Kamo Hovhannisyan, Karen Muradyan, Henri Avagyan, Nair Tiknizyan, Eduard Spertsyan, Artur Serobyan, Narek Aghasaryan, Styopa Mkrtchyan, Grant-Leon Ranos, Erik Piloyan, Sergey Muradyan

Subs: Ognjen Cancarevic, Arsen Beglaryan, Narek Grigoryan, Edgar Sevikyan, Zhirayr Shaghoyan, Edgar Grigoryan, Gevorg Tarakhchyan, Gor Manvelyan, Georgiy Harutyunyan, Karen Nalbandyan, Arayik Eloyan, Artem Bandikyan

Related: Armenia Portugal
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