A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick helped Portugal bounce back from conceding a goal of the qualifying campaign contender to secure a 3-1 victory in Armenia.
The hosts took a shock lead when Marcos Pizzelli fired in an unstoppable free kick from fully 30 yards. But a needless Henrikh Mkhitaryan challenge on Joao Moutinho allowed Ronaldo to grab his first from the spot.
Ronaldo then put Portugal in front when he capitalised on a mix-up between Robert Arzumanyan and goalkeeper Roman Berezovski to score into an empty net.
Three minutes later, the Real Madrid forward completed his treble with a strike from distance that edged Portugal further ahead.
Hrayr Mkoyan gave Armenia hope of pulling off a famous draw after Rui Patricio fumbled Aras Ozbiliz’s shot into his path but Portugal held out for the win.
The result means that Portugal extend their lead over Denmark and Albania at the top of the Group I table to five points with their rivals yet to play.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with his team mates after scoring a penalty goal against Armenia during their Euro 2016 group I qualifying soccer match in Yerevan, Armenia June 13, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
14’ – GOAL: Armenia 1-0 Portugal. It’s a wonderful free kick from almost 30 yards out from Pizzelli that leaves a stunned Rui Patricio flat footed. Goal of the qualifiers contender.
Armenia's Marcos Pizzelli (R) scores a goal against Portugal during their Euro 2016 group I qualifying soccer match in Yerevan, Armenia June 13, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
29’ – GOAL! Armenia 1-1 Portugal. A needless penalty conceded by Mkhitaryan with a clumsy challenge on Moutinho. Cristiano Ronaldo does the rest from the spot.
45+1’ – GREAT SAVE BEREZOVSKI: Coentrao cuts in from the left and unleashes a goalbound shot that the Armenia keeper stretches to palm away.
55’ – GOAL! Armenia 1-2 Portugal: Ronaldo chases a long through ball and it looks a lost cause before he seizes on miscommunication between Arzumanyan and Berezovski to poke the ball past the keeper.
58’ – GOAL! Armenia 1-3 Portugal: The pick of the bunch from Ronaldo, who brings down Berezovski’s goal kick before lashing the ball back past the keeper,
61’ – RED CARD: Tiago is sent off for a second bookable offence and Portugal are down to ten men.
72’ – GOAL! Armenia 2-3 Portugal: Patricio fumbls Aras Ozbiliz’s shot and Mkoyan stabs home.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with his team mate Fabio Coentrao (R) after scoring a penalty goal against Armenia during their Euro 2016 group I qualifying soccer match in Yerevan, Armenia June 13, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
Portugal and Armenia have met five times before, with Portugal boasting the record W3 D2 L0 (W3 D0 L0 at home, W0 D2 L0 away).
Portugal have won their last four competitive qualifiers away from home. The last time they failed to do this was in 2014 World Cup qualifying, when they drew 3-3 with Israel.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 55th goal for Portugal. He has scored 20 goals in qualifying.
TALKING POINT: So many to choose from. A dazzling hat-trick goal from Ronaldo and a nimble-footed pitch invader come close. But that Pizzelli strike will live long in the memory.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): An easy one to pick. Three chances, three goals; the difference between the sides, as so often he is.
Armenia: Berezovski 6, Andonyan 6, Arzumanyan 5, Hovhannisyan 6, Mkoyan 6, Hayrapetyan 6, Mkrtchyan 6, Pizzelli 8, Ghazaryan 6, Sarkisov 7, Mkhitaryan 7. SUBS: Hovsepyan 6, Ozbiliz 7, Korian 6.
Portugal: Rui 5, Bruno Alves 6, Coentrao 6, Carvalho 6, Eliseu 6, Joao Moutinho 7, Danny 6, Tiago 5, Ronaldo 8, Vieirinha 6, Nani 6. SUBS: Fonte 6, William Carvalho 6, Bernardo Silva 6.
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