Ramos notches hat-trick as Portugal rout Switzerland 6-1, reach quarters

Doha: A hat-trick from Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos helped Portugal to coast to an emphatic 6-1 win over Switzerland and set up a quarter-final clash with dark horses Morocco.

At Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the 21-year-old striker, who replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup, scored three decisive goals in the 17th, 51st and 67th minute to notch the first hat-trick of the tournament and to live up to the faith reposed by Portugal coach Fernando Santos.

Pepe, handed the captain’s armband in the absence of Ronaldo who was left on the bench by Santos, scored the second goal for Selecao das Quinas in the 33rd minute. Raphael Guerreiro was also on target for Portugal scoring the fourth goal for his team in the 55th minute.

Switzerland pulled one back in the 58th minute with Manuel Akanji scoring a consolation goal.

Thereafter, Portugal brought in Ronaldo in the 73rd minute as a substitute much to the roar of the crowd but he could not add his name on the scorers list, instead it was Rafael Leao, who added a sixth one in the injury stoppage time to complete a resounding win

Portugal meant business in the last 16 tie and the absence of Ronaldo in the starting eleven had no effect on the level of performance. Using the two defenders on the wings as an attacking option, Portugal took the attack into the rival camp and with Joao Felix serving as a perfect link between the defence and offense.

Ramos, who plays in the Portuguese Primeira Liga has been in terrific form this season, scoring 14 goals and six assists for his club this season across all competitions and is also the top scorer in the league, with nine goals in 11 appearances.

Portugal added a second one through 39-year-old Pepe, who finished off the set piece with a towering header from a corner taken by Bruno Fernandes to double the lead, 2-0.

In the second half Portugal continued to draw Switzerland in circles and it took them six minutes into the second half to make it 3-0.

Neymar Jr with teammates.

Brazil cruise past S. Korea 4-1, to meet Croatia next

Doha: A fabulous show of football by Brazil sent South Korea packing in their FIFA World Cup 2022 Round of 16 match at the 974 Stadium here.

The Koreans were completely outplayed by the Brazilian side in the first half as the South Americans scored 4 goals in a span of 29 minutes. The Asian side could salvage its reputation in the second half, but just, with the help of a 76th minute goal. The match ended 4-1 with Brazil set to take on Croatia in a quarter final clash.

The men in yellow began the assault on their Asian rivals when Vinicius Junior, assisted by Neymar Jr netted home in the seventh minute by a right foot shot. As a sea of yellow cheered their side incessantly in the 40,000-capacity stadium made with shipping containers, Brazil scored the second goal with the help of a penalty taken by Neymar Jr in the 13th minute.

Brazil’s third goal came in the 29th minute when Richarlison shot from the centre of the box to make it 3-0. He was assisted by Thiago Silva.

Lucas Paqueta, assisted by Vinicius Junior, made no mistake in the 36th minute to make it 4-0 for the South American side.

The Quarterfinals tally