Portugal Dominates Armenia 9-1 to Seal World Cup Qualification
What a night it was at the Estádio do Dragão as Portugal delivered a spectacular performance, dismantling Armenia 9-1 to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup. After a surprising setback against the Republic of Ireland in their previous match, where captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, Portugal needed a commanding win—and that’s exactly what they got.
The game began with Portugal asserting dominance immediately. In just the seventh minute, Renato Veiga headed home a pinpoint cross from Bruno Fernandes, setting the tone for what was to follow. Armenia showed some fight when Eduard Spertsyan leveled the score in the 18th minute, but Portugal responded quickly. Gonçalo Ramos restored the lead ten minutes later, followed by Joao Neves, who not only scored once but also added a second from a free-kick, giving Portugal a comfortable lead before half-time.
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On the stroke of half-time, Ruben Dias was fouled in the box, and Fernandes confidently converted the penalty to make it 5-1. The second half was just as relentless. Bruno Fernandes struck twice more—once with a precise low finish and again from the penalty spot after Carlos Forbs was fouled. Joao Neves completed his hat-trick with a clinical finish inside the box, and the night was wrapped up in injury time as Francisco Conceição drilled home Portugal’s ninth.
The performance was powered by incredible teamwork and efficiency. Portugal dominated possession, controlling nearly 76% of the ball, and racked up 34 shots compared to Armenia’s 4. Fifteen of those were on target, with two of Fernandes’ goals coming from penalties. It was a night where both skill and precision were on full display, leaving the Armenian defense overwhelmed.
This emphatic victory not only secured Portugal’s automatic qualification for the World Cup but also demonstrated their attacking depth, with hat-tricks from both Fernandes and Neves. While the spotlight was on Portugal’s triumph, it is worth noting that Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the first two games of the World Cup due to his red card in the previous match—a minor setback in what was otherwise a night to remember for the Portuguese team.
As the fans streamed out of the stadium, the message was clear: Portugal is back on the global stage with style, firepower, and a squad capable of delivering on the biggest occasions. Their road to the 2026 World Cup now continues with confidence and momentum, and after this performance, few would bet against them making a deep run.
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