The Portuguese coach Fernando Santos decided to put Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench and his replacement, the 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos, today led the Portuguese to the World Cup quarterfinals with a hat-trick in the 6-1 win against Switzerland.
After this resounding victory of Portugal, now awaits him in the quarterfinals Morocco, the great surprise of Qatar-2022, which after eliminating Belgium in the first phase, left Spain out in the second round on penalties (3-0 in the shootout, 0-0 in 120 minutes of play).
Goncalo RamosBenfica striker, with his three goals (17′, 50′ and 67′), did not deny the daring and risky decision of the technician Fernando Santos.
The other goals were achieved by the historic defender Pepe (33′), almost 40 years old, Raphael Guerreiro (55′) and Raphael Leo (90+2′).
?? Words are left over. pic.twitter.com/VQewa4HRo4
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) December 6, 2022
In the 17th minute the opening goal came. Bernardo Silva crossed Joao Félix from the throw-in, who gave in to Gonçalo Ramos in the area who released a powerful shot almost without an angle, in true ‘CR7’ style.
– Goal by Pepe –
Ramos’s goal seemed a nod to the arrival of a new generation after the monopolizing era of Cristiano Ronaldowho did not welcome his substitution in the 65th minute of the game against South Korea (2-1 defeat) and Fernando Santos, upset by this situation, relegated him to the bench.
And on a night for Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘usurpers’, the second goal came, scored by the center-back Pepewho had inherited in this party the captain armband of the Portuguese legend, with a header to the cross by Bruno Fernandes from the corner (33′).
39 years pic.twitter.com/N9Loqv3qSG
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) December 6, 2022
To round off the usurpation of the land belonging to Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe became, at 39 years and 283 days, the Second oldest goalscorer in World Cup historybeating his teammate.
Cristiano moved to third place in this historical classification, at 37 years and 295 days, after his goal against Ghana in this World Cup in the first phase.
In front of the two Portuguese, the mythical Cameroonian roger millawith 42 years and 39 days.
– Entry of CR7 –
In the second half, unstoppable, Portugal went on the scoreboard with two new goals.
first repeated Goncalo Ramos (50′), after finishing off a cross from Diogo Dalot’s right from close range, and then the winger made it 4-0 Raphael Guerreiroat the end of a counterattack from the left (55 ‘).
Switzerland was left with the consolation of scoring the goal of honour, through Manuel Akanji (57′), after a corner kick.
bouquets He would culminate his stellar game with a new goal, after a counterattack, again with the assistance of Joao Felix (67 ‘).
CR7⃣ pic.twitter.com/O3AIXKRq1s
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) December 6, 2022
Without emotion in a game that Portugal largely dominated on the scoreboard, the public only had left the incentive to see Cristianowho played the last quarter of an hour.
Once on the field, a free kick for Portugal on the edge of the box generated cheers from the crowd, eager to see Ronaldo shine. But this one crashed the ball into the barrier.
To the legendary Portuguese player too a goal was disallowed for offsideto the chagrin of his followers.
The role of closing the scoring account fell to Raphael Leo in the discount (90 + 2 ‘) with a shot crossed and high.
oh#BY is in the Quarterfinals!
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) December 6, 2022
