Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to lead Portugal to a 4-1 win at home over Latvia in UEFA World Cup qualifying Group B on Sunday.
The Real Madrid star opened the scoring with a penalty in the 28th minute after Latvia’s Gints Freimanis brought down Nani in the box following a one-two with Ronaldo.
Ronaldo should have doubled Portugal’s lead but hit the post with a second penalty before the hour mark, and Latvia equalised against the run of play soon after, Arturs Zjuzins lashing home after Jose Fonte had blocked Artjoms Rudnevs’ shot.
But the visitors’ joy lasted less than three minutes as William Carvalho restored Portugal’s lead with a close-range header, and Ronaldo did find his second with five minutes to play with a well-taken volley.
Ronaldo twice came close to completing his hat trick in the late stages, but when Portugal’s fourth did come it was Andre Silva heading home Raphael Guerreiro’s cross in stoppage time.
Portugal remain three points back of Switzerland, who continued their perfect run in qualifying with a 2-0 defeat of Faroe Islands.
Eren Derdiyok put the Swiss ahead with a powerful effort in the 26th minute. The Galatasaray forward calmly settled Valon Behrami’s lobbed pass on the left of the box and fired his low shot past Gunnar Nielsen for a 1-0 lead.
Stephan Lichtsteiner then wrapped up the points seven minutes from time with a fine downward header of a whipped in cross from Ricardo Rodríguez.
The win keeps Switzerland atop the Group B table with 12 points from four matches.
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