Cristiano Ronaldo bounced back from his weekend fit of rage with a goal to sink minnows Luxembourg
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Barnaby Lane
Mar 31, 2021, 16:17 IST
Ronaldo was on target as Portugal beat Luxembourg 3-1.Getty/John Thys
Cristiano Ronaldo bounced back from his weekend tantrum with a goal versus Luxembourg.
The Portugal forward stormed off the pitch after being wrongly denied a late winner against Serbia on Saturday.
Portugal beat Luxembourg 3-1 to go top of Group A in World Cup qualifying.
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Cristiano Ronaldo bounced back from his weekend tantrum to score as Portugal survived an early scare to beat minnows Luxembourg 3-1 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.
Ronaldo showed no sign of a hangover from his teenaged antics, however, bagging his 103rd international goal on Tuesday evening.
Luxembourg took a shock lead after half an hour when forward Gerson Rodrigues, who hit his country's late winner over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, scored a sublime diving header.
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Wolves striker Diogo Jota levelled for Portugal on the stroke of half time, before Ronaldo tapped home from close range just five minutes after the break.
Sporting Lisbon midfielder João Palhinha then scored his ever first international goal to wrap up victory for Fernando Santos' side, which now leads Serbia at the top of Group A on goal difference with three games played.
"Important victory towards our goal. Congratulations Team!" said Ronaldo on Instagram after the match.
"I understand his frustration and I agree with him because the goal was valid," said Meira. "But the referees are the ones that have to make decisions, without VAR, and he has to set an example. And yesterday's was not one to follow."
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Fernando Santos defended the Juventus striker, however, describing it as a moment of "great frustration."
"As a referee team, we always work hard to make good decisions. When we are in the news in this manner, it doesn't make us happy at all."
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