Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is now the 11th player to score a brace at the 2022 World Cup after helping Portugal beat Uruguay. The midfielder got both goals in a 2-0 win.
Portugal are now guaranteed a place in the knockout stages at Qatar 2022 after a second-half brace by Fernandes. The midfielder broke the deadlock at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in the 54th minute. He then struck again in stoppage time after the VAR awarded a penalty.
Cristiano Ronaldo attempted to claim Portugal’s first goal against Uruguay as his own after trying to head Fernandes’ cross. But the free agent former Manchester United forward did not seem to make contact with the ball. It instead floated straight into Sergio Rochet’s net.
Portugal deserved their lead in Lusail but Uruguay nearly responded straight away as Maxi Gomez hit the post. Luis Suarez also came close to scoring after coming off the bench. But the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) gave Portugal a chance to seal the points from the spot.
The VAR’s call was a harsh but arguably correct decision after Jose Maria Gimenez blocked the ball with his arm unintentionally. Had the centre-half not made contact with the ball, it would have rolled through his legs and left Fernandes with a clear chance to hit his second.
Bruno Fernandes: Portugal star is the 11th player to score a 2022 World Cup brace
Fernandes almost completed a hat-trick in stoppage time as his late effort crashed against the base of the post. But his double delighted the Portugal fans in Lusail as the Selecao got through to the knockout stages. They cannot be caught in Group H after two wins in two.
Manchester United star Fernandes is also now the 11th player to score a brace at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. His two goals took the 28-year-old to 13 across his 51 caps to date, while also providing 10 assists. He also offered his latest two in Group H as Portugal beat Ghana.
Mohammed Kudus: Ghana star’s brace secures a 3-3 draw at the 2022 World Cup
Ghana stand a strong chance of making the last 16 at Qatar 2022 after Mohammed Kudus’ brace against South Korea. The Ajax midfielder scored twice at the Education City Stadium to claim a 3-2 win. His efforts put the Black Stars 2-0 and 3-2 up after South Korea replied.
Mohammed Salisu gave Ghana the lead after a goalmouth scramble on 24 minutes. Kudus then stretched the West African’s advantage as he glanced a header home past Kim Seung-Gyu. But Cho Gue-Song replied to pull the Taegeuk Warriors level just after the hour mark.
Kudus, though, restored Ghana’s lead just seven minutes after South Korea drew level. The 22-year-old slotted in his seventh career goal in his 20th cap for a bit of World Cup history. He is the second youngest African after Ahmed Musa to score twice in a World Cup match.
Cho Gue Song: His two quick-fire goals briefly put South Korea level with Ghana
Cho had joined the list of players to score a brace at the 2022 World Cup with his two goals to momentarily draw South Korea level against Ghana. The Jeonbuk Hyundai striker scored two quick-fire headers on 58’ and 61 minutes. But Kudus restored his country’s advantage.
Salisu could only watch as Cho darted in front of the Southampton centre-half to meet Lee Kang-In’s cross to score. The 24-year-old then had his double and South Korea level as Kim Jin-Su caught Lawrence Ati-Zigi out of position. In doing so, Cho also made his own history.
Cho became the first player from South Korea to score more than one goal in a World Cup fixture. Opta also notes he is the first Asian player to score two headers during a tie at the quadrennial tournament. The 18-cap forward did not start in their 0-0 draw with Uruguay.
Andrej Kramaric: The VAR denied the Croatia star a hat-trick at the 2022 World Cup
The VAR overseeing Croatia and Canada’s Group F meeting would ultimately deny Andrej Kramaric a World Cup hat-trick. He had the ball in the back of the net after 25 minutes at the Khalifa International Stadium but Marko Livaja played him in from an offside position.
Kramaric calmly slotted home before the assistant referee raised their flag to spark a VAR review of the goal. The TSG Hoffenheim forward bounced back quickly, though, and pulled Croatia level from a tight angle on 36 minutes before he netted a low effort on 70 minutes.
Kylian Mbappe: PSG star’s two goals saw France beat Denmark at Qatar 2022
Kylian Mbappe emerged as France’s hero as the 2018 World Cup winners beat Denmark 2-1 in Group D. The Paris Saint-Germain star broke the deadlock just after the hour mark at Stadium 974 from close range. But Andreas Christensen buried Christian Eriksen’s corner.
Yet Mbappe secured France their deserved result with four minutes left on the clock. The 2018 World Cup Best Young Player award winner turned Antoine Griezmann’s cross home with his thigh from two yards out. It proved enough for the win and a place in the last 16.
Richarlison: Two goals from the Tottenham forward saw Brazil beat Serbia
Richarlison is just the third ever player to at one stage play for Tottenham Hotspur in their careers and score a goal for Brazil at the World Cup after his brace helped the Selecao beat Serbia 2-0. His second goal was also an early contender to win the goal of the tournament.
The £50m forward from Nova Venecia broke the deadlock on 62 minutes as he fired home the rebound of Vinicius Jr’s shot. Richarlison then scored a brace with one of the best goals of the 2022 World Cup as he turned mis-controlling Vinicius’ cross into an acrobatic finish.
Ferran Torres: Spain thrash Costa Rica 7-0 in part thanks to the Barcelona forward
Spain thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 to kick off their 2022 World Cup efforts in part due to Ferran Torres’ brace. The Barcelona forward scored La Roja’s third and fourth goals on 31’ and 54 minutes. He struck his first goal from the penalty spot after Oscar Duarte fouled Jordi Alba.
Olivier Giroud: AC Milan attacker becomes France’s joint all-time top-scorer
Olivier Giroud became France’s joint all-time top-scorer with Thierry Henry after his brace against Australia saw him reach 51 goals. The AC Milan ace struck home twice in Les Bleus’ opening match in Qatar as Didier Deschamps’ side began their title defence with a 4-1 win.
Adrien Rabiot had broken the deadlock after 27 minutes before turning creator and finding Giroud to score in the 32nd. It was a simple finish from the 36-year-old, who headed home in the 71st. Giroud also became the second-oldest player to score a brace at a World Cup.
Only Roger Milla, who scored for Cameroon aged 38 at Italia 90, has netted a brace at any World Cup aged older than Giroud. But Giroud did not net again as France beat Denmark.
Mehdi Taremi: A 103rd-minute penalty secured his brace in Iran’s 6-2 loss to England
Mehdi Taremi scored twice against England in Iran’s opening match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But his efforts proved to be of little consolation as the Three Lions thrashed Team Melli 6-2. He also struck his second of the game from the penalty spot in the 103rd minute.
The FC Porto forward kept England honest on 65 minutes as Taremi made it 4-1. But goals from substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish saw Gareth Southgate’s squad quickly move on. A VAR check then adjudged John Stones to have felled Taremi in stoppage time.
Bukayo Saka: Arsenal ace fired on either side of the break as England beat Iran
Bukayo Saka fired home on either side of the break as England thrashed Iran to put the tie to bed. The Arsenal ace struck the Three Lions’ second goal with a fierce volley into the top corner. He then got his double on 62 minutes after cutting inside and rolling the ball home.
Enner Valencia: His brace saw Ecuador beat Qatar in the opening World Cup game
Enner Valencia spoiled Qatar’s party as the Ecuador star scored a brace to kick off the 2022 World Cup. The 33-year-old was too hot for the host nation to handle at Al Bayt Stadium in the opening tie. The VAR ruling out his early header was also not enough to deny Valencia.
After seeing the VAR rule out his close-range header, Valencia continued to probe and won a 16th-minute penalty. Goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb brought the striker down in the box and could not keep his strike out. He also did not stop Valencia’s powerful 31st-minute header.
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