Portugal's defender Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 match between Portugal and Switzerland. Photo: AFP
Portugal thrash Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16 knockout stage of the Qatar FIFA World Cup.
Portugal opened the scoring in the 17th minute at the Lusail Stadium after Joao Felix slipped a clever pass into 21-year-old forward Gonçalo Ramos who turned quickly to smash a shot high into the top corner at the near post, catching the Swiss keeper off guard.
For the second, veteran centre back Pepe leaped high between the Swiss defenders to emphatically head home from a corner to make it 2-nil in the 33rd minute.
The goal made Pepe the second oldest goalscorer in World Cup history at 39-years-and-283-days-old.
Just six minutes into the second-half, Portugal extended their lead after Diogo Dalot beat his defender to hit a low cross to the near post for Ramos to touch into the net and make it a double for the youngster.
Shortly after, Portugal ripped apart the Swiss defense thanks to some swift counter attacking passing. Eventually the ball was played into Ramos at the top of the box who layed it off to a wide open Raphael Guerreiro to bury it past Sommer to make it four.
Switzerland quickly replied with a goal of their own, with Manuel Akanji finding himself open at the back post to knock a loose ball in from a corner. However, there were no celebrations from the Swiss players who were well and truly outclassed throughout the match.
Ramos completed his hattrick in the 67th minute, latching on to a pass from Joao Felix to lightly chip the ball over Yann Sommer.
Portugal manager made a big decision to start Ramos as it required him to drop Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench, however, the youngster certainly repaid his faith.
Rafael Leao put the nail in the coffin with a sixth goal for Portugal. Picking up the ball just outside the left of the box, the AC Milan winger chopped inside Granit Xhaka before curling a spectacular strike into the far corner.
Portugal are now set to face Morocco in a quarterfinal tie at 4am on Sunday 11 December.
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