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Portugal ........................... 2 Uruguay ........................... 0 ATAR – Bruno Fernandes scored a pair of goals as Portugal beat Uruguay 2-0 to move to six points in Group H at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar last night.
Portugal survived a hectic finish to the game to become the third team after France and Brazil to qualify for the last 16 and will finish group play against South Korea on Friday.
Portugal dominated with close to 70 per cent ball possession against Uruguay in a scoreless first half, but it was the South Americans who came closest to scoring when Rodridgo Bentancur charged through only to see his 32nd minute shot blocked by keeper Diogo Costa.
Fernandes scored from the left flank in the 54th minute with a whipped in cross-shot that Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to have redirected into the back of the net. However, on closer inspection the goal, originally given to Ronaldo, was credited to his former Manchester United teammate Fernandes.
The match was briefly interrupted shortly after the goal when a protester carrying a pride flag entered the pitch before being chased down and then led away by security staff.
Uruguay battled to get back on level terms and nearly did through substitute Maxi Gomez’s curling shot from the top of the penalty area in the 75th minute, but with Costa beaten it impossibly came back off the post.
Portugal then put the game out of reach just before full-time when VAR awarded them a penalty and Fernandes calmly converted from the spot for his second of the night.
Q