Portugal Ease Past 10-Man Luxembourg

Portugal ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over 10-man Luxembourg in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night but will still need to go through the play-offs to book a spot in Brazil. The Portuguese had a slim chance of toppling Russia in Group F but the latter confirmed automatic qualification with a 1-1 draw in Azerbaijan. Portugal started the game well, even without star player and captain Cristiano Ronaldo who was out due to suspension. Nani, who was given the armband for the clash, stepped up in his absence though, testing the goalkeeper with a low drive in the ninth minute before Helder Postiga was denied on the rebound. Fabio Coentrao then rattled the woodwork with a header before Nani was denied again by a brilliant save from Jonathan Joubert. The pressure was starting to tell for the visitors and they would crack when Aurelien Joachim was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Andre Almeida. The opening goal then arrived two minutes later when Joao Moutinho slid a perfect pass through to Silvestre Varela who rounded the goalkeeper and fired into an empty. The hosts were in complete control and six minutes later Nani traded passes with Moutinho before smashing a superb finish into the roof of the net. The game slowed down after the break with Portugal in command, though Lars Krogh Gerson had a rare chance for the visitors and fired straight at the goalkeeper. Nani was denied on a few more occasions while the Manchester United man saw his inviting cross wasted late on. The hosts would finally wrap things up with 11 minutes to go though as Hugo Almeida flicked on a cross from Josue and Postiga slotted his finish under the goalkeeper.