Fifa World Cup 2022: Ronaldo-less Portugal beat Switzerland 6-1

With the star striker benched, forward Goncalo Ramos steps up with a hat-trick to send Portugal into the quarter-finals

By the time Ronaldo entered as a substitute in the 72nd minute, his side already had the game wrapped up

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Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos (right) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Switzerland in Qatar on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:48am, 7 Dec 2022Updated: 9:40am, 7 Dec 2022

With Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, the superstar striker’s replacement scored a hat-trick to lead Portugal over Switzerland 6-1 and into the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Goncalo Ramos, the 21-year-old forward who only made his Portugal debut last month, made his first start for his country and showed the kind of clinical finishing Ronaldo was once known for.

Ramos scored the opening goal in the 17th minute and added others in the 51st and 67th – by which time chants of “RONALDO! RONALDO!” were swirling around the 89,000-seat Lusail Stadium.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo entered as a substitute in the 72nd minute to loud cheers, though Portugal had the game wrapped up by then with defenders Pepe and Raphael Guerreiro also scoring. Rafael Leao added a another goal in stoppage time.

Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos scores his team’s fifth goal against Switzerland on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Manuel Akanji scored for Switzerland.

Portugal advanced to the quarter-finals for the third time, after 1966 and 2006, and will play Morocco on Saturday.