Portugal has won a match without their key striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed out on their UEFA Nations League group clash against Sweden due to a positive Covid-19 test on Tuesday.
A Diogo Jota brace and another strike from Bernardo Silva was all they needed to thrash Sweden 3-0 in Lisbon on Wednesday.
Sweden have now lost all four of their Nations League matches and are rock bottom of the group.
Speaking after the match, Portugal coach Fernando Santos said, “We are not better without Ronaldo, but the team had shown before that it is capable of succeeding without him. We were well-organized offensively.”
Just a day earlier, Santos had said that Cristiano Ronaldo was left frustrated by his Covid-19 diagnosis and ‘really wanted to play this match’.
Cristiano Ronaldo also posted a photo on Instagram where he could be seen watching the match on television wearing a Portugal jersey and captioned it ‘It’s as if I am there’.
The striker was forced to leave the national team camp after the positive Covid-19 test on Tuesday, and has returned to Italy on Wednesday to continue his self-isolation.
Silva curled home the opener in the 21st minute thanks to a play from Jota, who laid on the Manchester City midfielder instead of going for goal himself in a promising position.
Fellow Premier League star Jota made it two just before the break when, completely unmarked, he chested down Joao Cancelo’s beautifully flighted pass and slotted home.
With input from IndiaToday
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