The Sun (Malaysia)

Red hot Devils

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their first ever World Cup qualifier away goal.

Ronaldo scored twice and even missed a spotkick as European champions Portugal recovered from a second-half wobble in Lisbon to remain three points adrift of Group B leaders Switzerlan­d.

Ronaldo converted a first-half spotkick to open the scores but then missed a second one which hit the post.

Within a minute Latvia were level as substitute Arturs Zjuzins pounced on the loose ball following a goalmouth scramble to fire home on 67 minutes.

But headers from Willian and Bruno Alves and a spectacula­r scissor-kick from Ronaldo assured Portugal of the three points.

Earlier in Group B, the Faroe Islands were similarly plucky in soggy Lucerne, where Switzerlan­d scored seven minutes from the end through Stephan Lichtstein­er to grind out a 2-0 victory and maintain their 100 percent record.

In the same group Hungary hammered Andorra 4-0 at home.

Out-of-favour Manchester United winger Memphis Depay came off the bench to score twice and save the Netherland­s’ blushes in Luxembourg.

Depay gave United manager Jose Mourinho a reminder of his worth just as the Dutch were sliding to an embarrassi­ng draw.

The 3-1 victory over Luxembourg keeps the misfiring Dutch in the hunt for a place at Russia 2018, but they will need to play better if they are to trump the twin threats of table-toppers France and Sweden in Group A. – AFP

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