Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 139th and 140th international goals as Portugal thrashed Armenia 5-0 in their first match since the death of Diogo Jota in a car accident in July.
A minute’s silence was held before the World Cup qualifier in honour of Jota, who won 49 caps for Portugal, and banners were on display around the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan.
João Félix opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Ronaldo doubled their lead when he converted Pedro Neto’s cross. João Cancelo celebrated his goal to make it 3-0 by mimicking Jota’s video game celebration.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo extended Portugal’s lead to four shortly after half-time with a stunning strike of a bouncing ball from distance, while his Al-Nassr teammate Félix added a second of his own to complete the scoring.
The match was Portugal’s first in qualifying group that also includes Hungary and the Republic of Ireland.
Serbia kept up their hopes of catching England in Group K with a 1-0 win against Latvia in Riga. Dusan Vlahovic scored the decisive goal in the 12th minute, slotting the ball past Krisjanis Zviedris from outside the penalty area.
Dragan Stojkovic’s side are five points behind the group leaders, England, with the two teams meeting in Belgrade on Tuesday.
In the African section of World Cup qualifying, Nigeria live to fight another day after beating Rwanda 1-0. Tolu Arokodare, who completed a move from Genk to Wolves on transfer deadline day, scored an acrobatic 50th-minute winner after coming off the bench.
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Defeat for Nigeria in Uyo would have finished off their chances of qualifying for the World Cup but the victory moves them to within six points of the group leaders, South Africa, and five points behind second-place Benin with three games to go. Group winners qualify automatically for the finals in North America next summer, with second place heading into intercontinental playoffs.
