GOAL BLITZ PUTS ROB ON CLOUD NINE

NO RONALDO, no problem. Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves both scored hat-tricks as Roberto Martinez’s Portugal beat Armenia 9-1 to book their place at the finals as champions of Group F.

- BY RICHARD LEWIS

It was a Sunday stroll in Porto for the hosts, who were without Cristiano Ronaldo after his red card against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.

They had to win to confirm qualifying and manager Martinez said: "I really liked the players' reaction.

"We saw our team back to its best: committed, supportive and executing the game plan excellently.