• PORTUGAL RATINGS: Rui Patricio 7 – The Roma goalkeeper had little to do - it took 30 mins for his first save - on his 105th cap. Lost his place for his country after a poor group where Portugal needed to take the play off route, but a chance to impress ahead of his seventh major tournament with Portugal and he took it and saved a late penalty. AP Photo
    PORTUGAL RATINGS: Rui Patricio 7 – The Roma goalkeeper had little to do - it took 30 mins for his first save - on his 105th cap. Lost his place for his country after a poor group where Portugal needed to take the play off route, but a chance to impress ahead of his seventh major tournament with Portugal and he took it and saved a late penalty. AP Photo
  • Diogo Dalot 8 - Likely to be second choice right-back to Joao Cancelo, but he did his World Cup chances no harm with a smart cut back and ball into Fernandes, which put Portugal ahead. Getty Images
    Diogo Dalot 8 - Likely to be second choice right-back to Joao Cancelo, but he did his World Cup chances no harm with a smart cut back and ball into Fernandes, which put Portugal ahead. Getty Images
  • Ruben Dias 7 - The Manchester City defender was a regular in qualifying but injured in the play-offs. Back in time for the big one. Getty Images
    Ruben Dias 7 - The Manchester City defender was a regular in qualifying but injured in the play-offs. Back in time for the big one. Getty Images
  • Antonio Silva 7 - The Benfica defender is only 19 but he was composed in front of the big 43,621 crowd, expect for when he was turned by Villarreal’s Chuckwueze. Getty Images
    Antonio Silva 7 - The Benfica defender is only 19 but he was composed in front of the big 43,621 crowd, expect for when he was turned by Villarreal’s Chuckwueze. Getty Images
  • Nuno Mendes 8 - His 12th minute cross – or was it a shot? - almost went in. A regular starter for PSG and his country at 20. A prodigious talent. AP Photo
    Nuno Mendes 8 - His 12th minute cross – or was it a shot? - almost went in. A regular starter for PSG and his country at 20. A prodigious talent. AP Photo
  • Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal v Nigeria - Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal - November 17, 2022 Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action with Nigeria's Francis Uzoho REUTERS / Rodrigo Antunes
    Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal v Nigeria - Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal - November 17, 2022 Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action with Nigeria's Francis Uzoho REUTERS / Rodrigo Antunes
  • William Carvalho 7 - The Betis midfielder, 30, was his usual powerful self, sat in front of the back four in the 4-1-2-3 formation. Passed well and a favourite of boss Fernando Santos. Getty Images
    William Carvalho 7 - The Betis midfielder, 30, was his usual powerful self, sat in front of the back four in the 4-1-2-3 formation. Passed well and a favourite of boss Fernando Santos. Getty Images
  • Joao Felix 8 - Turned and fired the ball over the Nigerian goal on 20 minutes. Provided the balls into Fernandes and almost set him up for a hat-trick on 44. Scored the third on 73. Looks happier playing for his country than his club, Atletico. Getty Images
    Joao Felix 8 - Turned and fired the ball over the Nigerian goal on 20 minutes. Provided the balls into Fernandes and almost set him up for a hat-trick on 44. Scored the third on 73. Looks happier playing for his country than his club, Atletico. Getty Images
  • Bernardo Silva 7 - Arguably Portugal’s best player, he’s played a lot of football for Man City and was brought off at half time. Reuters
    Bernardo Silva 7 - Arguably Portugal’s best player, he’s played a lot of football for Man City and was brought off at half time. Reuters
  • Andre Silva 7 - The debutant, who plays his club football at RB Leipzig, didn’t score but grafted. Getty Images
    Andre Silva 7 - The debutant, who plays his club football at RB Leipzig, didn’t score but grafted. Getty Images
  • Otavio 6 - The Brazilian-born midfielder, 27, was briefly floored but brought energy against the three-times champions of Africa. AFP
    Otavio 6 - The Brazilian-born midfielder, 27, was briefly floored but brought energy against the three-times champions of Africa. AFP
  • SUBS: Raphael Guerreiro 6 - On for Nuno Mendes, the left-back had been a regular for Portugal until the emergence of Mendes. Getty Images
    SUBS: Raphael Guerreiro 6 - On for Nuno Mendes, the left-back had been a regular for Portugal until the emergence of Mendes. Getty Images
  • Pepe 7 - On for Dias, the veteran defender who will turn 40 after the tournament, wore the captain’s armband. He made his Portugal debut in 2007. Getty Images
    Pepe 7 - On for Dias, the veteran defender who will turn 40 after the tournament, wore the captain’s armband. He made his Portugal debut in 2007. Getty Images
  • Vitinha 7 - On for Fernandes, the PSG midfielder hasn’t looked out of place alongside Messi and Neymar and was comfortable for his country against Nigeria. Getty Images
    Vitinha 7 - On for Fernandes, the PSG midfielder hasn’t looked out of place alongside Messi and Neymar and was comfortable for his country against Nigeria. Getty Images
  • Joao Mario 6 - On for Bernardo Silva, the Benfica midfielder, 29, scored the fourth Portugal goal on 84. With over 50 caps, he’s an experienced member of the team. AP Photo
    Joao Mario 6 - On for Bernardo Silva, the Benfica midfielder, 29, scored the fourth Portugal goal on 84. With over 50 caps, he’s an experienced member of the team. AP Photo
  • Goncalo Ramos 6 - On for Andre Silva after 67, the Benfica striker scored the third on 82 minutes. Getty Images
    Goncalo Ramos 6 - On for Andre Silva after 67, the Benfica striker scored the third on 82 minutes. Getty Images
  • Ricardo Horta 7 - On for Otavio, Braga’s record goalscorer could feature in the finals following Rafa Silva’s surprise retirement. Getty Images
    Ricardo Horta 7 - On for Otavio, Braga’s record goalscorer could feature in the finals following Rafa Silva’s surprise retirement. Getty Images

Portugal ratings v Nigeria: Fernandes 9, Joao Felix 8, Dias 7


Andy Mitten
  • English
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Bruno Fernandes scored twice in the first half and debutant Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario added late goals as Portugal crushed Nigeria 4-0 in a World Cup warm-up in Lisbon on Thursday.

Missing Cristiano Ronaldo due to a stomach bug, his Manchester United teammate Fernandes led a strong Portugal side in their last match before travelling to Doha on Friday.

The only surprise was the debut of 19-year-old Benfica defender Antonio Silva, who started ahead of Pepe as the veteran works his way back from a long injury layoff.

Roared on by a sold-out Alvalade stadium, Fernandes seized the first chance he had in the ninth minute when Joao Felix found Diogo Dalot and he teed up Fernandes to tap into an empty net.

Portugal doubled their lead through Fernandes from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after a Bernardo Silva cross struck the hand of defender Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Fernandes calmly converted the spot-kick to complete only the third brace for Portugal.

Coach Fernando Santos made six substitutions in the second half and Ramos scored Portugal's third immediately after Portugal goalkeeper saved a penalty from Emmanuel Dennis after the VAR spotted Dalot's foul in the 81st minute.

Ramos took a short pass from Raphael Guerreiro in his stride and unleashed a powerful shot low into the middle of the goal.

Joao Mario closed out the victory with a strike into the bottom corner to the delight of around 45,000 fans in the stadium.

Portugal are in World Cup Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.

Updated: November 18, 2022, 5:52 AM