41-year-old Ronaldo makes history again: Portugal cruises to a 5-goal victory over Uzbekistan with his brace
Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan.
Once again, Cristiano Ronaldo has made history.
He scored the opening goal just 6 minutes in.
In the 39th minute, he calmly finished a one-on-one against the goalkeeper, marking his second goal of the day.
This brings his total World Cup goal tally to 10. He has surpassed Eusébio to become the highest-scoring player in the tournament's history for the Portuguese national team.
Furthermore, he has become the first player in history to score in six consecutive tournaments.
His goal at 41 years and 138 days old is the second-oldest record in World Cup history.
However, it would be a shame to end this match summary with just 'Ronaldo made history again'.
Portugal drew 1-1 in their opening match against Congo.
Despite having possession, they were unable to get close to the goal as they had hoped.
But in the second match, they shook the opponent from the right, the left, the center, through set pieces, and on the counterattack.
Ronaldo scores.
Ronaldo acts as a decoy.
As Ronaldo runs, other players move into the space behind or beside him.
The 41-year-old number 7 remains at the heart of Portugal's attack.
However, his role has become deeper and more interesting than before.
Chapter 1: The first strike, 6 minutes in
From the start of the match, Portugal pushed forward.
There was no caution that would suggest they were still dwelling on the draw from the first match.
Joao Cancelo takes a high position on the right flank, pushing back the Uzbekistan defensive line.
Then, in the 6th minute.
Cancelo sent in a low cross from the right.
Ronaldo waited in front of the goal and struck the near post with his right foot.
The near post is the side of the goal closest to the player with the ball.
Since the goalkeeper is also wary of shots toward the center or the far side, it is difficult to react when a shot is struck hard and fast toward the near side.
Ronaldo did not take a big backswing.
He utilized the speed of the ball and connected accurately with a short swing.
This is the skill of a striker.
There was no flashy dribbling.
He didn't beat several opponents either.
He predicted where the cross would land, moved half a step faster than the defender, and finally connected with the ball.
The battle had already begun before the goal was scored.
This was his first goal in six matches in the tournament.
Ronaldo's expression showed not only joy but also relief.
For a player expected to score by the whole world, a goal drought in the World Cup is heavy.
He kicked that pressure into the back of the net just six minutes into the match.
Chapter 2: The free kick Ronaldo doesn't take
In the 17th minute, Portugal earned a free kick just outside the penalty area.
Standing in front of the ball were Ronaldo and Nuno Mendes.
When Ronaldo stands in this position, everyone imagines a direct shot.
He takes his run-up and strikes a powerful, knuckleball shot.
The stadium, the Uzbekistan wall, and the goalkeeper must have all been waiting for that strike.
However, it was Nuno Mendes who took the kick.
A sharp shot pierced the goal, making it 2-0.
What is important about this goal is that Ronaldo did not touch the ball.
Even without touching it, he drew the opponent's attention.
This is what it means to be a 'decoy'.
The Uzbekistan goalkeeper and the wall were highly wary of Ronaldo's run-up and shot trajectory.
That awareness caused their reaction to Nuno Mendes to be slightly delayed.
In soccer, it is not just the player with the ball who is attacking.
Where you stand.
The direction you run.
The gaze directed at you by the opponent.
These also become weapons to move the opponent's defense.
With a presence like Ronaldo's, you can contribute to a goal without even kicking the ball.
Portugal used even their ace's fame and intimidation as part of their set-piece strategy.
Chapter 3: Bruno's pass and Ronaldo's run
In the 39th minute, Portugal scored their third goal.
Bruno Fernandes held the ball in the center.
At that moment, Ronaldo started running behind the opposing defenders.
The through ball from Bruno went directly into Ronaldo's path.
One-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Ronaldo did not panic and calmly found the back of the net.
This goal was a result of the two players' visions perfectly aligning.
It would have been too late if Bruno had waited to think until after Ronaldo started running.
And it wasn't that Ronaldo moved only after Bruno kicked the ball.
The passer and the receiver both spotted the space behind the defense at almost the exact same moment.
That is why the opposing defenders could not react.
Ronaldo's speed may not be what it was in his prime.
Even so, his timing for making a run remains sharp.
Getting behind the defense is not just about running faster than the opponent.
It is about starting to move earlier than the opponent.
At 41, Ronaldo is getting behind defenses not just with leg power, but with experience and anticipation.
Chapter 4: The extraordinary record of scoring in 6 consecutive tournaments
With this second goal, Ronaldo reached a total of 10 World Cup goals.
He surpassed the Portuguese legend Eusébio to become the country's all-time top scorer in the tournament.
Furthermore, scoring in six consecutive tournaments is a first in history.
This record is not merely a record of longevity.
The World Cup only happens once every four years.
Just qualifying once is difficult enough.
To keep being selected for the national team.
To keep qualifying for the final tournament.
And, to score a goal every single time.
Unless you maintain all of that over a long period, you cannot reach the milestone of scoring in six consecutive tournaments.
When he was young, Ronaldo was a player who would dribble from the wing.
He would blow past opponents with explosive acceleration and unleash powerful shots.
Later, he increased his frequency of entering the box and transformed into the world's top goalscorer.
Now, he chooses when to move, capitalizing on a single chance.
He hasn't just continued for a long time with the same playing style.
He has kept changing his role to suit his age and his team.
Scoring in six consecutive tournaments is also a record for a player who never refused to change.
Chapter 5: Ronaldo's Sprint to the Finish
In the second half, Portugal wins another free kick.
Standing in front of the ball is Ronaldo once again.
This time, he is going for a direct shot.
Everyone must have thought so.
However, Ronaldo did not kick the ball, but instead ran straight behind the defensive line.
Bruno sent a lofted pass.
Ronaldo found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Abduvohid Nematov made a brilliant dash out to stop him.
It did not result in a goal.
Even so, it was an interesting play.
Because he turned a free kick from a "situation to shoot from a stationary ball" into a "situation to get behind the defense the moment the opponent's defense is stationary."
The opponent forms a wall, wary of Ronaldo's shot.
The moment their focus is on the ball, he runs toward the goal.
Even though it didn't go in, it shows that Portugal has prepared many variations for set pieces.
And from the corner kick earned by this play, an own goal was scored, making it 4-0.
Ronaldo's shot was stopped.
But that attack did not end there.
Chapter 6: The depth of attack shown by Portugal
In the 87th minute, substitute Rafael Leão scored the fifth goal.
Ronaldo, who started, scored two goals.
Nuno Mendes scored from a free kick.
In the second half, they forced an own goal, and finally, Leão, who came off the bench, finished it off.
The scorers and the ways of scoring are different.
This is the depth of attack that Portugal displayed in this match.
It is not just Ronaldo that needs to be guarded against.
Cancelo from the right.
Bruno in the center.
Nuno Mendes and Leao from the left.
Pedro Neto also makes runs, drawing fouls from the opponent.
Even if one outlet is shut down, they can head toward the goal from another area.
In the opening match against Congo, Portugal's attack felt heavy.
Even when they had the ball, they spent a long time playing against a set defense.
However, against Uzbekistan, they varied their points of attack with crosses, passes behind the defense, free kicks, and corner kicks.
They do not attack the same spot repeatedly.
If the opponent closes the center, they go wide.
If they guard the outside, they go from the center to behind the defense.
If attention is focused on Ronaldo, another player takes the shot.
Portugal changed the shape of their attack while observing the opponent's defense.
Chapter 7: The VAR decision that split Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan also had a moment that could have changed the flow of the game.
In the first half, Azizjon Ganiev appeared to have scored a brilliant long-range shot.
If the goal had been allowed, the score would have changed, and the atmosphere of the match might have shifted as well.
However, after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to a foul in the preceding play.
VAR does not just look at the moment of the goal.
It also checks whether there was a foul during the sequence of play leading up to the goal.
It was a tough call for Uzbekistan.
There is a significant psychological difference between pulling one back to make it 1-2 and continuing the match at 0-2.
Will the chasing side gain momentum?
Will the attacking side be able to settle down again?
A single decision can greatly influence the flow of the match.
Although it ended in a five-goal margin, Uzbekistan did have an opening for a comeback.
Portugal did not let them open that small door.
Chapter 8: Next is the battle for the top spot against Colombia
With this victory, Portugal reaches 4 points.
They stand at the top of Group K and will face Colombia in the final matchday.
They may not necessarily be able to control the ball as they did against Uzbekistan.
Colombia has strong attacking power and will surely target the space behind Portugal's defense.
Who will cover the space left behind by Cancelo and Nuno Mendes as they push forward?
How quickly can they transition to defense the moment they lose the ball?
Along with the momentum from scoring five goals, their defensive balance will also be tested.
And will Ronaldo score in his third consecutive match?
41 years old.
Scoring in 6 consecutive tournaments.
10 total goals in the World Cup.
The most in Portuguese history.
Even just listing the numbers is historic enough.
Yet, he himself said that the team's goals are more important than records.
The reason those words don't sound like empty platitudes is that Ronaldo is actually changing his role for the sake of the team.
Taking the shot himself.
Setting up teammates to shoot.
Acting as a decoy.
Making runs behind the defense.
Drawing opponents in front of the goal.
The current Ronaldo is not just a goalscorer, but also a massive focal point for Portugal's attack.
Opponents cannot ignore the number 7.
Where his gaze is directed, other players find freedom.
Ronaldo's goal record may continue to grow.
However, in the next match, I want you to pay attention not just to his goal count, but also to where he is moving the opposing defense.
Even in moments when he isn't touching the ball, the number 7 is moving the game.
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