Portugal put up a spectacular display as Goncalo Ramos netted a magnificent hat-trick after being named as Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock replacement to inspire Portugal to a 6-1 World Cup romp against Switzerland.
Portugal boss Fernando Santos sprung a huge surprise by leaving the leading goalscorer in history of international football on the bench. A 21-year-old Ramos, making his first international start, promptly stole the show and booked a quarterfinal showdown with Morocco.
Ramos violently crashed a 17th-minute shot into the top corner before a man 18 years his senior, veteran centre-back Pepe, become the second-oldest goalscorer at the World Cup behind Cameroon great Roger Milla.
There was nothing backward-looking or nostalgic about this Portugal side, though, as Ramos and Raphael Guerriero put the game to bed early in the second half. After Manuel Akanji, one of Switzerland’s bedraggled defenders pulled one back, Ramos secured the matchball and substitute Rafael Leao rifled home a show-stopping sixth.
Goals:
POR — Goncalo Ramos (Joao Felix) — 17th min.
POR — Pepe (Bruno Fernandes) — 33rd min.
POR — Goncalo Ramos (Diogo Dalot) — 51st min.
POR — Raphael Guerriero (Goncalo Ramos) — 55th min.
SUI — Manuel Akanji (Goncalo Ramos) — 58th min.
POR — Goncalo Ramos (Joao Felix) — 67th min.
POR — Rafael Leao (Raphael Guerriero) — 90th min+2.
Portugal’s attack played with freedom and verve from the start, with Joao Felix at the heart of most of their best work. The Atletico Madrid forward slipped a pass to Ramos and he was given space to score spectacularly from an acute angle.
Fabian Schar struggled to the extent that he was substituted at halftime, by which point it already felt like there was no way back for Murat Yakin’s Switzerland. Pepe was left unattended after the half-hour to power home Bruno Fernandes’ corner from the right.
Santos also benched Joao Cancelo and his starting full-backs Diogo Dalot and Guerriero repaid his faith early in the second period. Manchester United’s Dalot provided a low cross that Ramos deftly flicked home before Guerriero charged forward to thump high into the net as the centre-forward turned provider.
Akanji smuggled home from a corner before the hour but there was no respite for Switzerland.
Ramos brought the house down in the 67th minute, with Felix again majestically involved to tee him up for a cute dinked finish beyond Yann Sommer.
Ronaldo entered the fray for the closing stages and saw fellow sub Leao cut in from the left to complete the scoring. Perhaps Portugal can finally go all the way, with Ronaldo relegated to the supporting cast.
The Sporting News
