With four goals each, France and Portugal were in no need of favors as they comfortable cruised by their opponents in Saturday’s EURO 2020 qualifying action.
[ MORE: EURO qualifying wrap ]
Serbia 2-4 Portugal
The Serbians were no match for the Portuguese.
Portugal, trailing an unbeaten Ukraine in Group B by eight points, were more than ready to cut the deficit on Saturday night in Belgrade. And despite taking 42 minutes to get the engine going, the goals, eventually, poured in.
William Carvalho broke deadlock minutes before halftime, tapping in the ball into the back of net following a lack of chemistry between Serbia’s goalkeeper and defense inside the six-yard box.
Gonçalo Guedes added one of his own to put the visitors up two goals early into the second half. More than twenty minutes later, with Serbia back into the game through a Nikola Milenković goal, Cristiano Ronaldo, as always, made sure to make his presence known.
Cristiano Ronaldo has his goal at last 💪 pic.twitter.com/iuzKYISvxS
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 7, 2019
Goals galore followed shortly, with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Bernando Silva scoring within two minutes.
Portugal, with a lot of ground to make up, now sets its sights on Lithuania, while Serbia travels to Luxembourg.
France 4-1 Albania
Is this the year that Kingsley Coman separates himself from everyone else in the elite category? So far, it’s looking like it and France - like Bayern Munich - are gladly benefiting from it.
With a brace from the winger, France cruised past Albania in Paris.
The 23-year-old scored first in the eight minute, following a sublime back from Raphaël Varane. In the 68th minute, with France up by two, Coman recorded his second of the night.
That Raphaël Varane assist 😍 pic.twitter.com/56AYCNdObo
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 7, 2019
Albania spoiled Hugo Lloris’ clean sheet following a converted penalty from Sokol Cikalleshiu.
Despite an unbeaten record through five matches, the pressure on France remains intact with Turkey and Iceland, who only trail by goal differentials, as they take on Andorra next. Albania, on the side, host Iceland.
Elsewhere
Kosovo 2-1 Czech Republic
Lithuania 0-3 Ukraine
England 4-0 Bulgaria
Iceland 3-0 Moldova
Scotland 1-2 Russia
Slovenia 2-0 Poland
Turkey 1-0 Andorra