Goncalo Ramos scored a hattrick to help Portugal produce one of the high-scoring World Cup results of the midweek action. The build-up to the knockout match was dominated by Ronaldo’s response to his replacement in Portugal’s previous game, and his relegation put an end to a run of 31 games he had started for his country at the tournament finals. Portugal advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2006 thanks to one of the best performances of the competition thus far, where Spain’s opponents Morocco await.
Ramos and Otavio both put Sommer to the test in the first half before Pepe gave Portugal the lead. At the time of a rare Switzerland attack from a free kick, Xherdan Shaqiri also had a chance. He was completely unmarked as he hammered home a corner to shatter history. He was the second-oldest World Cup goal scorer (behind Roger Milla) and the only record-breaker in the knockout rounds. Both teams had chances to increase the score before halftime, but six minutes into the second half, Ramos scored the game’s third goal by slipping a hard low cross from the once-excellent Diogo Dalot through Sommer’s legs.
Three became four very shortly as Switzerland’s heads dropped. Edmilson Fernandes’ sloppy defence gave Guerreiro an open path forward, and he later connected with Ramos’ pass and shot into the roof of the net. Switzerland had at least taken the lead thanks to Akanji’s close-range goal, but Ramos’ quick-thinking dink beat Sommer and earned him the game’s top prize in just nine minutes, forcing Switzerland to return to removing the ball from their own own. As the game went on, it became clearer and clearer that Portugal would win as a statement, and Leao demonstrated the depth of talent at his disposal by curling in a stunning sixth four minutes after coming off the bench.
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