Goncalo Ramos scores his first hat-trick of the 2022 World Cup as Portugal defeats Switzerland 6-1 despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo.
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In place of Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal defeated Switzerland 6-1 in the World Cup round of 16, and Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick. Portugal had no regrets about benching Ronaldo. The build-up to the knockout match was dominated by Ronaldo’s response to his substitution in Portugal’s previous game, and his relegation put an end to a run of 31 games he had started for his country at tournament finals. His compatriots put on one of the best displays of the competition while he was away, helping Portugal advance to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2006, where they will face Morocco, the team that defeated Spain.
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Ramos, his replacement, needed just 17 minutes to open his own account with a thunderous effort that was past Yann Sommer before he could react. Ramos was five years old when Ronaldo scored his first World Cup goal. Pepe, who is 39 years old, scored from a corner just before halftime to give Portugal a firm lead. Ramos then scored a poacher’s goal at the near post to put an end to the match as a contest. Just before the hour, even left-back Raphael Guerreiro participated, rifling home an inviting Ramos assist, before Manuel Akanji stabbed home a consolation that hardly called for a celebration.
With the first hat-trick of this World Cup, Ramos transitioned back from assist to goal scorer, deftly chipping Sommer to reaffirm his manager’s faith. Soon after, Ronaldo finally came off the bench, but Rafael Leao’s exquisite corner curl in extra time meant that another young player—rather than Portugal’s elder statesman—was on the scoresheet.
