Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated becoming the first player to appear in five European Championships with a brace as they got their title defence off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory over a determined Hungary on Tuesday.
Hungary rode a wave of early pressure from Portugal in the Group F clash and had a goal ruled out for offside shortly before Portugal’s Raphael Guerreiro broke the deadlock at the other end with a deflected effort in the 84th minute.
- World Bank counters FG, says 7m Nigerians plunged into poverty
Kidnappers hold district head, release wives after N5m ransom in Niger
Captain Ronaldo sealed the win by lashing home from the penalty spot in the 87th to move ahead of Michel Platini as the all-time top scorer at the finals on 10 goals, which he quickly turned into 11 by dribbling the ball into the net in added time.
In the other Group F match, a calamitous own goal from Mats Hummels gave world champions France a 1-0 victory over Germany at the Allianz Arena.
Hummels, recalled by Germany boss Joachim Low for the tournament following a two-year absence, sliced Lucas Hernandez’s cross into his own net in the 20th minute to give favourites France, runners-up at the last Euros, a winning start.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
