Liverpool Echo
Diogo Jota once again impressed for Portugal in their latest World Cup qualifier last night.
The Liverpool forward was on target for Portugal to help spare the reigning European champions’ blushes in Luxembourg.
The hosts – who recorded a 1-0 victory away to the Republic of Ireland on Saturday – took the lead on the half-hour mark through midfielder Gerson Rodrigues.
However, Jota, who had already struck the crossbar with a header, nodded the visitors level on the stroke of half-time after meeting a cross from Wolves star Neto.
Before further strikes after the interval from Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Palhinha secured a 3-1 win for Fernando Santos’ side.
The goal was the forward’s third in his last two games in the current international break as well as his sixth goal in five starts for Portugal.
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes was watching the match from afar as he served out a suspension for two bookings his side’s opening two group games.
But watching from at home in Manchester, the midfielder took to Instagram after Jota drew his side level.
He wrote: “Vamoooooos @diogoj_18.”
Jota has been in fine form for the Reds this season in his debut campaign on Merseyside, scoring 10 goals in all competitions despite missing close to three months of action with a knee injury.
This was also the first time Portugal had played since Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off the pitch in anger over the weekend.
Jota had put his side 2-0 up against Serbia on Saturday night, but second half strikes from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Filip Kostic rescued a draw for the home side in Belgrade.
However, Ronaldo thought he had scored all three points for his side at the death, when his effort appeared to cross the line in stoppage time.
But unlike Premier League and Champions League games, VAR was not in use, so no goal was awarded, even though it was clear that the ball did cross the line.
The Juventus star could not hide his frustration over the decision not to award a goal, and showed his anger by walking off the pitch moments before the full-time whistle was blown, throwing his captain’s armband to the ground as he did.
This Story First Appeared At The Liverpool Echo
