Bruno Fernandes Brace Helps Portugal Beat North Macedonia To Qualify For 2022 World Cup

Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal to the 2022 World Cup by scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Italy's conquerors North Macedonia on Tuesday. Italy's shock exit had North Macedonia dreaming of their first ever appearance at a World Cup finals but Portugal and Fernandes proved a step too far in Porto. Fernandes eased Portuguese nerves at the Estadio do Dragao by finishing off Cristiano Ronaldo's pass in the first half and then made the win more comfortable in the second, latching onto an inch-perfect cross from the excellent Diogo Jota.

The victory means Portugal extend their run of qualifying for six out of six World Cups since the turn of the century while Ronaldo is on course for his fifth, aged 37.

The striker's best previous result was reaching the semi-finals in 2006, when Portugal were beaten by Germany.

North Macedonia, placed 67th in the world rankings, had defeated Germany to finish second in Group J before dumping out European champions Italy in the play-off semi-final on Friday, Aleksandar Trajkovski scoring a 92nd-minute winner to pull off a stunning result in Palermo.

Portugal, meanwhile, have yet to strike a balance between their traditionally conservative approach and an array of attacking talent that would be the envy of any country in the world.

They were denied top spot in Group A by Serbia while Fernando Santos' side were relieved to see Turkey miss an 85th-minute penalty, with the score 2-1, in their semi-final win on Thursday.

North Macedonia made a confident start too, their possession sustained enough to draw whistles from an agitated home crowd.

Portugal's first chance came in the 14th minute when Jota threaded Ronaldo through and the striker unleashed with his left foot, only to fire wide of the far