Portugal are through to the next round following a 2-0 win over Uruguay thanks to two second goals from their main man on the night, Bruno Fernandes.
The European nation controlled proceeding but did not create much clear scoring chance in the first half and the best chance of the day, went to Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur, whose brilliant run was followed by a shot well saved by Diogo Costa.
Portugal got the reward for their dominance, six minutes before the hour mark as Bruno Fernandes curled a cross into the box looking for Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the effort was too high and Ronaldo’s run ends up deceiving the Goalkeeper, who stood rooted to a spot as the ball ends into the back of the net for the first goal of the match.
Substitutes Maxi Gomez and Luis Suarez went close for Uruguay but they were unable to beat Diogo Costa until late in the game, when Jose Gimenez was penalized for a foul in the box.
Bruno Fernandes, who drew the handball stepped up and beat Sergio Rochet, sending the Nacional Goalkeeper the wrong way to cap off a brilliant individual display on the night.
The Manchester United midfielder almost complete a hat-trick but his shot came off the upright deep into added time and Portugal see out a 2-0 win, making them only the third nation to seal passage into the round of 16.
Portugal will have the chance to be decisive in the side that joins them in the next round on final day, when all of Ghana, Uruguay and Korea Republic slug it out for the one left spot.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
