Portugal dominate first half against Uzbekistan

Portugal extended their commanding lead against Uzbekistan in a thrilling World Cup group-stage clash. Iconic striker Cristiano Ronaldo doubled his personal tally for the night by finding the back of the net in the 39th minute.

The legendary captain's clinical finish firmly put Roberto Martinez's relentless squad into a comfortable three-goal advantage. It added to earlier first-half strikes from Ronaldo himself in the 6th minute and defender Nuno Mendes in the 17th minute.

The European heavyweights completely dominated possession and controlled the tempo of the game at Houston Stadium. Uzbekistan struggled to cope with the fluid attacking transitions and precise passing of the Portuguese midfield.

Fabio Cannavaro’s side tried to regroup defensively but found themselves constantly pinned back in their own half. The comprehensive scoreline leaves the tournament debutants facing a massive uphill battle to salvage anything from the encounter.

With a three-goal cushion, Portugal look entirely on track to secure a crucial three points in Group K.