Fernandes grabs brace as Portugal beat Super Eagles 4-0

<p>Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes grabbed a brace for Portugal as the former European champions whipped Nigeria’s Super Eagles 4-0 in an international friendly match on Thursday.</p>, <p>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it was a poor showing on the night from the Super Eagles.</p>, <p>They did not offer much of a test to their World Cup-bound opponents in the match played at Lisbon’s Estadio José Alvalade.</p>, <p>Fernando Santos’ men started on the front foot as team captain Fernandes opened scoring for the hosts as early as in the eighth minute.</p>, <p>This was after João Félix lifted a lovely ball for Diogo Dalot, who found himself suddenly behind the Nigerian defenceline.</p>, <p>With his Portugal teammates lining up for his pass, Dalot showed excellent composure to slip the ball across goal for Fernandes to tap in with ease.</p>, <p>Fernandes grabbed his brace in the 38th minute from the penalty kick spot as he fired low into the right-hand corner past a static goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.</p>, <p>This was after Bernardo Silva’s cross from the left into the box had bounced off the flailing arm of Bright Samuel.</p>, <p>However, the Super Eagles improved in the second half and could have reduced the deficit in the 81st minute.</p>, <p>This was after Dalot shoved over Samuel just inside the Portuguese vital area, and the Cypriot referee had no choice but to award a penalty kick.</p>, <p>But substitute Emmanuel Dennis, who had come on for Moses Simon five minutes earlier, took a pretty weak kick which goalkeeper Rui Patrício pushed against the upright to save.</p>, <p>The Super Eagles were made to rue the missed opportunity almost immediately as Gonçalo Ramos scored barely 20 seconds later to grab a debut goal.</p>, <p>This was after Raphael Guerreiro found himself in an acre of space on the left-hand side of the Nigerian area.</p>, <p>He had a couple of teammates queuing for a tap-in, but decided to pass to debutant Ramos who tapped home from six yards.</p>, <p>João Mário added a fourth two min