FIFA World Cup: Portugal enters last 16 stage, beating Uruguay 2-0 in Group ‘H’ match in Qatar

Earlier yesterday, Brazil became the second team to qualify for the knockout stage beating Switzerland in Group ‘G’ match at Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha. For Brazil, Casemiro scored the solitary goal to help the five-time champions to a slender 1-0 win.

Earlier, Cameroon and Serbia played a thrilling 3-3 draw in a high-intensity Group ‘G’ match keeping the hopes of entering last 16 alive.  

Today, there will be two Group ‘A’ matches. Ecuador will take on Senegal at the Khalifa International Stadium Doha and the Netherlands will take on Qatar at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Qatar.

AIR Sports Desk reports, Bruno Fernandes scored twice to send Portugal flying into the Round of 16, defeating Uruguay 2-0. Fernandes, curled in a cross from the left that barely went over the head of Ronaldo and bounced into the far corner of the net in the 54th minute to give Portugal a 1-0 lead.

Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration, believing he had scored his ninth World Cup goal and second of this year’s tournament.

However, after repeated close-up replays, it was awarded to Fernandes, who added a second goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time after a handball by Jose Maria Gimenez. Earlier, in Brazil versus Switzerland, after playing a goalless first half at Stadium 974, Manchester United star Casemiro scored a stunning volley to give Brazil, playing without Neymar, a 1-0 win over Switzerland.

With the thrilling win in a low-scoring encounter, the record five-time champions have joined France in the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup.

The Brazilian side has also become the second team to not face a single shot on target in their first two matches in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup. The same feat earlier was achieved by defending champions France in the 1998 edition of the mega event.