(Football news) Manchster United talisman Bruno Fernandes scored two goals in the first half and Benfica duo Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario added late goals as Portugal crushed Nigeria 4-0 in a warm-up in Lisbon just before their first match against Ghana on 24th Nov. They were missing Cristiano Ronaldo due to a stomach bug but his Manchester United teammate Fernandes led a strong Portugal team in their last match before travelling to Doha on Friday. The only surprise in the starting lineup was the debut of 19-year-old Benfica defender Antonio Silva, who started ahead of Pepe as he works his way back from a long injury layoff which kept him out the majority of the season for Porto.

The Portugal team was roared on by a sold-out Alvalade Stadium as Fernandes seized the first chance in the ninth minute when Joao Felix found Diogo Dalot who teed up Bruno Fernandes who tapped into an empty net. Portugal then went on to double their lead through Fernandes from the spot in the 35th minute after Bernardo Silva’s cross struck the hand of Bright Osayi-Samuel. Fernandes stepped up to take the penalty kick and calmly converted the spot kick to complete his third brace for Portugal. He should have had a hattrick when Joao Felix found with a brilliant through but Fernandes couldn’t finish once he got past the keeper.

Fernando Santos made six substitutions in the second half and that paid dividends as Ramos scored Portugal's third immediately after Rui Patricio saved a soft penalty from Emmanuel Dennis after VAR deemed that Dalot’s foul in the 81st minute was inside the penalty box. Ramos scored a tap-in from a Raphael Guerreiro pass as Joao Mario closed out the match after some brilliant work between Ramos and Felix who set up Joao with an easy finish to the delight of around 45,000 fans in the stadium. Portugal are in World Cup Group H with Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea, and will be favourites to qualify from that group.

"The perfection didn't exist or at least it is very hard to accomplish, but we made a great game, dominating every level," Fernandes told Sport TV. "It was a win that gave us great confidence ahead of our debut against Ghana. We are a team, it is not about individuals and we have a great group, young players that are up and coming and hungry. We are ready for the World Cup."

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