Armenia 0-5 Portugal Player Ratings: João Cancelo 9.5/10 Rated as Portugal Run Riot in a 5-0 Demolition

The Armenia vs Portugal game started a bit slow, as you would expect, but gradually picked up the pace as it went on. The visitors were focused on possession, while the home side was picking up quick counters on any loose ball. Cancelo had his opposite number in his pocket numerous times under 10 minutes, before picking Joao Felix in the six-yard box through a sublime cross, which the Al-Nassr forward scored superbly. Portugal doubled their lead, after a beautiful work on the edge of the penalty box from Pedro Neto, who cut in from right to put an incredible cross for the Portugal marksman Cristiano Ronaldo, who sent a volley flying past the goalkeeper. 'SIUUUU', how can you keep this guy silent for long? Portugal continued to dominate and showed their superb ball retention. Moments later, the visitors combined for one-two through passes between Felix, Fernandes, and Ronaldo. Unfortunately, Felix fumbled, which could have been a dream team goal. The Seleção das Quinas was running rampant and scoring goals for fun now. This time, it's Joao Cancelo who scored. Ronaldo fired a shot which the Armenian goalkeeper parried, but the ball fell to Felix, who placed a simple pass in front of Cancelo, who shot a rocket of a shot into the top corner.

The Portuguese fullback paid tribute to Diogo Jota with his celebration. Portugal, with over 74% possession, sums up their dominance. Second half underway, and Portugal have struck again with the Portuguese legend unleashing an incredible effort from a half volley past a struggling keeper who got his hand but couldn't keep it out. Minutes later, Ronaldo turned into a provider, picking Neves with a perfect through ball, ball somehow bounced off the post. How in the world did he miss it? Portugal continued their goal-scoring barrage, Joao Felix getting his second goal of the night. Ramos' cross somehow managed to reach the 25-year-old Al Nassr forward, who deceived the onrushing goalkeeper with his outside of the boot. Armenia tried going forward to find a consolation goal, but Diogo Costa is well aware of it. An eventful yet dominating display of football from the Portuguese football players came to an end with a 5-0 scoreline. Here are the Armenia vs Portugal player ratings.

Armenia National Football Team Player Ratings vs Portugal

Here are Armenia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Henri Avagyan - 6.0: A truly thankless task for the Armenian keeper. Conceding five goals is never a good look, but from our perspective, he was left completely exposed by his defence. He did make four saves, some of them quite decent, preventing the scoreline from becoming even more embarrassing. Honestly, without him, it could have been seven or eight. He couldn't be faulted for the clinical finishing of the Portugal attackers. A very long night at the office.

Defenders

Sergey Muradyan - 5.5: Struggled to cope with the relentless waves of Portuguese attacks. He was constantly under pressure and looked out of his depth against the likes of Félix and Cancelo. With nine possessions lost and being part of a backline that was torn to shreds, it was a baptism of fire. He made a few clearances but was largely reactive rather than proactive. A tough learning experience for him.

Erik Piloyan - 5.5: Picked up a clumsy yellow card and never looked comfortable. He was one of the defenders who just couldn't handle the movement and pace of the opposition. What stood out to us was his difficulty in one-on-one situations. He was dribbled past and committed fouls in dangerous areas. He blocked a couple of shots which slightly helps his rating, but it was a poor display overall.

Georgiy Harutyunyan - 6.0: Probably the best of a very bad defensive bunch. He won a decent number of his duels and made five clearances, showing some fight and resilience. That being said, he was still a core part of a defence that conceded five goals. He tried to organize things but the Portuguese quality was just too overwhelming. A slightly better performance than his defensive partners but that isn't saying much.

Kamo Hovhannisyan - 4.5: A disastrous evening for the defender. His error leading directly to a goal was a killer moment that summed up Armenia's night. Beyond that single mistake, he was dribbled past three times and lost the ball frequently. We noticed his confidence seemed to completely evaporate after the mistake. A performance he will want to forget immediately, easily the worst on the pitch.

Nair Tiknizyan - 5.0: Another defender who had a torrid time. He was constantly targeted down his flank and struggled to contain Portugal's wide players. Being dribbled past three times in 79 minutes shows just how much trouble he was in. He was eventually substituted, and frankly, it was a mercy. He just couldn't get a foothold in the match.

Midfielders

Ugochukwu Iwu - 6.5: One of the few Armenian players to emerge with any credit. He worked tirelessly in the midfield, making three tackles and three interceptions. He showed genuine fight and tried to break up play whenever he could. His effort was commendable in a team that was being completely overrun. It was a thankless job, but he never stopped trying to make an impact.

Eduard Spertsyan - 5.5: His passing stats look good on paper, but his actual impact was minimal. He had an error that led to a shot and was largely a passenger in the game. We expected more from him creatively, but he was swallowed up by the Portuguese midfield. He needed to impose himself on the game but was unable to leave his mark. A very quiet and disappointing performance.

Vahan Bichakhchyan - 5.0: Almost completely anonymous during his hour on the pitch. He failed to get involved in the play, with just 21 touches to his name. For a player in his position, that's simply not enough. He was hooked on the hour mark, and it was no surprise. He offered very little both in attack and defence.

Forwards

Lucas Zelarayán - 6.0: Looked like a quality player who was completely starved of service. He was isolated up front, chasing shadows for much of the game. He showed a few neat touches and tried to link up play, but it was an impossible task. You could see his frustration growing as the match went on. A case of a good player in a dysfunctional team performance.

Tigran Barseghyan - 7.0: Armenia's standout performer by a country mile. He was the only one who looked like he could cause Portugal any problems. With three shots on target, he forced Diogo Costa into making actual saves. He was a bright spark of energy and intent in an otherwise dismal team performance. He can hold his head high after that.

Substitutes

Edgar Sevikyan - N/A: Came on but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Grant-Leon Ranos - N/A: Tried to get involved but the game was long gone.

Zhirayr Shaghoyan - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Edgar Grigoryan - N/A: A late cameo.

Narek Aghasaryan - N/A: Brought on for the final few minutes.

Manager

Yegishe Melikyan - 4.0: His team was set up in a way that just invited pressure. They were tactically outthought, outfought, and outclassed in every department. There was no clear plan to contain Portugal's attacking threats, and his side was punished severely. The substitutions made little difference.

Portugal National Football Team Player Ratings vs Armenia

Here are the Portugal player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Diogo Costa - 7.0: A very comfortable evening for the Portuguese number one. He had to make three saves and he did so without any fuss, securing a clean sheet. He was alert when called upon, especially against Barseghyan's efforts. His distribution was solid, and he was a calm presence at the back. An easy day's work.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 7.5: A typically dominant and composed performance. He was a rock at the heart of the defence, winning his duels and stepping out with the ball confidently. Armenia's attackers got no change out of him whatsoever. From our perspective, he makes defending look so incredibly easy. He barely broke a sweat all night.

Gonçalo Inácio - 8.0: What a display. His passing from the back was simply superb, breaking lines and starting attacks. He even created a big chance, showing his quality with the ball. A very impressive performance that suggests he has a huge future.

Nuno Mendes - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular game. He got forward well down the left flank, but his final ball was sometimes lacking. He missed a big chance, which docks his rating slightly. A decent performance, but we know he can offer more.

João Cancelo - 9.5: Simply unplayable. This was a masterclass in modern full-back play. He scored a goal, provided an assist, created four chances, and completed four dribbles. He was a constant menace, drifting inside and causing chaos. What stood out to us was just how much freedom he played with. The highest-rated player and an undisputed Man of the Match performance.

Midfielders

Bruno Fernandes - 8.5: The conductor of the orchestra. He was at the heart of everything good Portugal did, creating four chances and constantly probing the Armenian defence. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork and could have had a goal himself. His vision and range of passing were on another level. A creative masterclass from the midfield maestro.

João Neves - 8.0: He made controlling a midfield in a WC Qualification Europe game look like a walk in the park. His passing was crisp and intelligent, and he was so strong in the duel. He dictated the tempo of the game with an authority that belies his years. A complete midfield performance that was a joy to watch.

Vitinha - 8.0: A human metronome. His 99% pass accuracy tells you everything you need to know. He was flawless in possession, keeping the ball moving and recycling it with intelligence and precision. He was the glue that held the Portuguese midfield together. An understated but absolutely vital performance.

Forwards

Cristiano Ronaldo - 8.0: The legend continues. He bagged a brace with two clinical finishes, showing he's still a lethal goalscorer. Yes, he missed a couple of big chances, but you can't argue with two goals. He was a constant threat before being substituted just before the hour mark. His hunger for goals remains utterly insatiable.

João Félix - 9.0: He was electric. Two goals and a performance full of flair, creativity, and confidence. He looked like he was enjoying his football, taking players on and linking up beautifully with his teammates. When he plays with this kind of freedom and joy, he is a world-beater.

Pedro Neto - 7.0: Only played the first half but made a significant impact. He provided a lovely assist and was a constant threat with his pace and dribbling. He looked sharp and dangerous, causing the Armenian defence all sorts of problems. A very effective 45 minutes of football.

Substitutes

Trincão - 6.5: Came on at halftime and kept the pressure up, but didn't have the same impact as Neto.

Gonçalo Ramos - 6.0: Missed a couple of decent chances to get on the scoresheet.

Nuno Tavares - N/A: Slotted in seamlessly at the back.

Pote - N/A: Looked lively in his cameo.

João Palhinha - N/A: Brought on late to see the game out.

Manager

Roberto Martínez Montoliú - 9.0: A perfect game plan executed to perfection. He allowed his creative players the freedom to express themselves and they duly dismantled the opposition. His team selection was spot on, and the tactical setup completely overwhelmed Armenia. He couldn't have asked for a better performance from his team.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Joao Cancelo.