Portugal kept up their 100% start to UEFA European Championship qualifying, beating Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-0 at the Estádio da Luz. Goals from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes proved decisive as the Navigators won the first head-to-head between these sides in 12 years.Roberto Martinez began his Portuguese managerial career in impressive fashion, overpowering minnows Liechtenstein and Luxembourg with an aggregate score of 10-0 in his first two matches in charge. However, Bosnia would be the first real test, and so it proved in a cagey first half that saw Portugal frustrated for large periods thanks to the visitors’ impressive tenacity off the ball.Bosnia were far from just a tough nut to crack, and offered plenty of threat going the other way. Adrian Barišić first struck the bar, before Edin Džeko skied a promising opportunity from deep inside the box. Surprisingly, Portugal were made to wait until the stroke of halftime to register a shot on target, but it proved more than worth the wait as Bernardo Silva broke the Bosnian rearguard with a glorious finish to send his side in ahead at the break.YOU CAN WATCH SILVA’S GOAL HERE.While Faruk Hadžibegić’s outfit didn’t look off pace after the restart, they certainly seemed cautious in their approach, as conceding another would mean any comeback against a Portuguese defence aiming for a third successive clean sheet looked beyond them. However, they could only do so much, as Portugal doubled their tally 13 minutes from full time. Superbly executed once again, the Navigators brought the stadium to life with a wonderful team effort, finished off by Fernandes who rose highest to bury an inch-perfect Rúben Neves cross into the top corner.YOU CAN WATCH FERNANDES’ FIRST GOAL HERE.Fernandes capped off a fine performance with a sublime half-volley in stoppage time for his second of the night, as Martinez’s men kept up control of the qualifying group having scored 13 goals without reply in three games. Meanwhile, Bosnia have remarkably failed to win 13 of their last 14 international road trips, and their own qualification hopes have been dented by a second consecutive loss.YOU CAN WATCH FERNANDES’ SECOND GOAL HERE.EURO2024Q: Norway suffer another blow, Haaland’s goal not enough for a pointElsewhere, Belgium and Austria shared the spoils in an entertaining Euro 2024 qualifier at the King Baudouin Stadium, as the Red Devils’ 100 percent record under Domenico Tedesco ends after three games.After a sobering World Cup campaign that resulted in Roberto Martínez leaving his role as head coach, there was a renewed sense of optimism under new boss Tedesco. Cheered on by a partisan crowd in Brussels, the hosts began brightly, with Jérémy Doku and Dodi Lukebakio looking lively on either flank. But that promising start counted for nothing after Ralf Rangnick’s side broke the deadlock against the run of play thanks to Orel Mangala’s own goal. Patrick Wimmer delivered an innocuous-looking corner into the box that found its way to Michael Gregoritsch, whose shot was diverted past Thibaut Courtois by the Nottingham Forest midfielder. Belgium looked to Lukebakio to provide the response, and he agonisingly fired wide of the target after making a darting run through the Austria defence shortly before halftime.YOU CAN WATCH MANGALA’S OWN GOAL HERE.The Red Devils were forcing the issue after the re-start against a resolute and well-organised Austria side, as Wout Faes headed over from Yannick Carrasco’s corner. However, Rangnick’s men still threatened to deliver another sucker punch, this time through Marko Arnautović, but Courtois was on hand to make a fine save at his near post. His opposite number, Romelu Lukaku, was enduring a frustrating evening, but came within inches of restoring parity when he flashed a long-range strike wide of Alexander Schlager’s goal.Although, the Red Devils’ record goalscorer was not to be denied just past the hour mark, after levelling the scoreline with a superb left-footed strike from a similar position following some excellent work by Lukebakio. It was anything but plain-sailing for Tedesco’s side though, with Courtois called into action again to deny Stefan Posch on this occasion. Carrasco then thumped the ground in frustration when his speculative effort went a whisker wide of the post in his last action of the game.YOU CAN WATCH LUKAKU’S GOAL HERE.The closing stages were being played at a frenetic pace with Tedesco’s side looking most likely to net a decisive second goal. However, the points were shared in what looks set to be a closely-contested battle for qualification. Rangnick’s side remain top of Group F with seven points – three clear of the Red Devils, who have a game in hand. This draw ends Belgium’s run of 15 straight Euro qualifying victories, along with Austria’s sequence of four consecutive wins across all competitions.EURO 2024Qualifiers – Round 3SaturdayGROUP FAzerbaijan – Estonia 1-1 (0-1)/Kryvotsiuk 62 – Sappinne 27/Belgium – Austria 1-1 (0-1)/Lukaku 62 – Mangala 22og/GROUP JLuxembourg – Liechtenstein 2-0 (0-0)/Sinani 59, Rodrigues 89/Iceland – Slovakia 1-2 (1-1)/Finnbogason 41 – Kucka 27, Suslov 70/Portugal – Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-0 ()/Silva 44, Fernandes 77, 90+3/
