Ronaldo stars for Portugal in Euro qualifier as England, France also prosper
BERLIN: Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals for Portugal in a 51 win at Lithuania, world champion France defeated Andorra 30 and England enjoyed a 53 victory over Kosovo in Euro 2020 qualifiers yesterday.
European champion Portugal’s win moves it five points behind leader Ukraine in group B with a game in hand, England stays in command with a perfect record in group A while France remains top on goal difference in group H.
In Vilnius, Ronaldo converted from the spot in the seventh minute before Vytautas Andriuskevicius headed the home side level.
Ronaldo’s shot was deflected in off keeper Ernestas Setkus to put the visitors ahead in the 62nd minute, and the Juventus forward was on target again three minutes later before making it four in the 76th for his 93rd international goal.
William Carvalho completed the scoring for Portugal in stoppage time to follow up Sunday’s 42 win in Serbia.
Visiting Serbia defeated Luxembourg 31 to third in the group on seven points, one behind Portugal.
Kingsley Coman put France ahead against Andorra at the Stade de France before Antoine Griezmann had a penalty saved — his second miss of the week from the spot.
Clement Lenglet headed a second after the break for his first goal for France and Ben Yedder made it three in stoppage time as Les Bleus moved to the top of group H.
They remain level on points with Turkey who won 40 at Moldova with a brace from Cenk Tosun and one each from Deniz Turuc and substitute Yusuf Yazici.
The French were also helped by Iceland slipping to a 42 defeat at Albania to stay on 12 points, three ahead of the Albanians.
England went behind after 35 seconds to Kosovo when Valon Berisha capitalised on a square pass by defender Michael Keane in Southampton.
But Gareth Southgate’s side hit back with five goals before the break from Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, an own goal by Mergim Vojvoda and two from Jadon Sancho, his first for England.
Berisha pulled one back shortly after the break for his second goal and Harry Maguire then conceded a penalty which Vedad Muriqi converted.
At the other end, Kane had a penalty saved and Sterling saw a shot deflected against the post but England could not add to its tally.
‘‘There were obvious poor errors for goals but I’m really pleased with the composure we showed,’’ Southgate told ITV.
‘‘We had devastating attacking play throughout and we used the ball well. ‘‘The mistakes were obvious, the errors. We have to be better. The players don’t need me to tell them that. The outstanding parts of our play were obvious, the errors were obvious.’’
England is now without a defeat in 43 Euro and World Cup qualifying matches since October 2009.
The result drops Kosovo to third, one point behind the Czech Republic which enjoyed a 30 win at Montenegro.