Helping the 2016 European Championship winners maintain their 100 per cent qualifying record in Group J, Fernandes scored one goal and registered three assists to help secure a landslide victory for Roberto Martinez&aposs side. It means they can secure qualification for next summer&aposs tournament in Germany as soon as next month.
Fernandes, who has scored one goal for United so far this season, scored Portugal&aposs eighth goal of the night on 83 minutes, tucking the ball home from inside the penalty area. He had already provided the assists for Goncalo Inacio&aposs first-half brace and Diogo Jota&aposs first goal of the game 12 minutes after half-time.
The United ace ran the show in midfield, helping Portugal record their highest margin of victory in their history. They had previously won 8-0 on three occasions.
Unsurprisingly, praise and recognition were not in short supply for the former Sporting Lisbon ace, who has now scored 17 goals and registered 16 assists for his country at senior level. Below, MEN Sport has taken a close look at what some of the world&aposs media said in response to the 29-year-old&aposs dazzling showing against the international minnows.
A Bola, who ranked Fernandes as Portugal&aposs best player on the night, reported: “We&aposve never seen anything like this in the 102-year history of the national team. Nine goals scored in a single game against none conceded. Just like that: 9-0!
“Neither more nor less, the biggest defeat ever just happened at the Algarve Stadium and the victim was Luxembourg, who in March, remember, had already lost 6-0 at home against Portugal.
“Forever remembered will be the names of Bruno Fernandes (three assists and one goal), Diogo Jota (two goals and one assist), Gonalo Ramos and Gonalo Incio (each with two goals), Ricardo Horta (one goal) and Joo Flix (one goal).”
Maisfutebol said: “He scored one and assisted three times: two of them to Gonalo Incio and another to Diogo Jota the latter, in a great pass to isolate the Liverpool forward. Bruno Fernandes&apos good performance would also be crowned with a goal in the final minutes.”
Spanish newspaper AS wrote: “The one who shone the most was Bruno Fernandes. He didn&apost score until the 82nd minute when the game was already 7-0, but it was the icing on the cake for his fantastic game.”
