7 shots, 8 key passes: £40m Man Utd star destroys opponent with world-class display on int'l duty
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes put on a mesmerising display in Portugal’s thumping 9-1 victory over Armenia in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers on Sunday.
Fernandes returned to the line-up this weekend after missing the previous fixture due to suspension.
With Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out following a red card, Fernandes embraced the leadership mantle with total authority.
The United talisman unleashed a wicked free-kick that forced a rebound, allowing Renato Veiga to smash home the opener.
Moments later, he won another set-piece from which Joao Neves curled in a sensational strike.
Fernandes marked the end of the first half by scoring through a penalty.
The 31-year-old has surprisingly missed two spot-kicks this season but stepped up with complete authority on this occasion. He doubled his tally six minutes into the second half.
Goncalo Ramos slipped a perfect pass into his stride, and the midfielder drilled a low, clinical finish into the bottom-right corner. It was the strike of a player oozing confidence, something that would thrill the United faithful.
The £40 million star completed his hat-trick with another penalty, this time delicately lifting the ball over the goalkeeper after spotting him commit early.
Portugal’s onslaught showed no signs of slowing, and Fernandes continued to tear Armenia apart.
He put a goal on the plate for Felix with a graceful no-look pass to his left but the former Chelsea ace blazed his shot over the bar.
The midfielder finished the evening with eight key passes and seven attempts on goal, staggering numbers even by his high standards.
It was refreshing to see Fernandes unleashed with complete freedom in the number 10 role.
United boss Ruben Amorim would be wise to study this performance closely and consider tweaking his system to fully unlock Fernandes’ elite attacking qualities in the final third.
Stats from Sofascore.com
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .