Updated at 22.35
CRISTIANO RONALDO struck twice as Roberto Martinez’s relentless Portugal thrashed Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0 on Monday in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Portugal, who booked their place at the tournament in Germany next summer with a win over Slovakia last Friday, continued their superb form under the Spanish coach with their eighth victory in eight games since he arrived.
Ronaldo netted his 126th and 127th Portugal goals, further extending his record as the top all-time men’s international goalscorer.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes added the third before Barcelona duo Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix joined in the fun, all before half-time.
Bosnia, led by veteran target man Edin Dzeko, languish fifth and can no longer progress from the group after Slovakia beat Luxembourg 1-0.
Bosnia have two games remaining and are seven points behind second-placed Slovakia in Group J, with Portugal the runaway leaders.
Martinez’s side have scored 32 goals and only conceded twice, racking up all 24 points possible so far.
Al-Nassr striker Ronaldo, 38, opened the scoring from the penalty spot and dinked home his second with a neat finish, but was replaced by Martinez after 65 minutes, while still in search of his hat-trick.
The former Real Madrid forward was also confronted by a pitch invader shortly before half-time, but stewards swiftly intervened.
Fernandes and Cancelo finished with sublime accuracy and power as the hosts’ defence crumbled miserably, while Felix stroked in the fifth.
Bosnia tightened up in the second half but it was far too little, far too late.
Earlier, Austria qualified for Euro 2024 on Monday with a 1-0 victory away to Azerbaijan in Baku that ensures they will finish in the top two of Group F.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer scored a penalty three minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute to book an appearance at a third straight European Championship for Austria.
Ralf Rangnick’s side shrugged off a 3-2 home defeat by Belgium last week to join them among the eight countries now guaranteed a place at next year’s 24-team tournament in Germany.
Austria were awarded a penalty early in the second half when Sabitzer’s free-kick was handled by a player in the Azerbaijan wall.
His team-leading fourth goal in qualifying, and second spot-kick in four days, was enough to seal victory as Tural Bayramov missed a glorious late chance to equalise for Azerbaijan.
Austria finished with 10 men as Guido Burgstaller was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in stoppage time.
A fifth win in seven matches pushed Austria 10 points clear of third-placed Sweden, who will have to go through the play-offs in order to avoid failing to qualify for the first time since Euro 96.
Austria are level on 16 points with Belgium but have played a game more than the unbeaten group leaders. They conclude their qualifying campaign away to Estonia next month.
Euro 2024 qualifying results on Monday:
Group B
Greece 0 Netherlands 1 (Van Dijk 90+3-pen)
Gibraltar 0 Republic of Ireland 4 (Ferguson 8, Johnston 28, Doherty 60, Robinson 80)
Group F
Azerbaijan 0 Austria 1 (Sabitzer 48-pen)
Belgium v Sweden – abandoned at half-time
Group J
Iceland 4 (G Sigurdsson 22-pen, 49, Finnbogason 44, Haraldsson 63) Liechtenstein 0
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 Portugal 5 (Ronaldo 5-pen, 20, Fernandes 25, Cancelo 32, Felix 41)
Luxembourg 0 Slovakia 1 (Duris 77)
