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World Cup qualifying: Portugal rout Luxembourg to close in on finals [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
Faro (Reuters) - Pauleta and Simao Sabrosa hit two goals apiece to help Portugal crush Luxembourg 6-0, to take a big step towards next year's World Cup finals.
Portugal top Group Three with 23 points from nine matches going into their game in Russia on Wednesday. Russia, who beat Liechtenstein 2-0, share second place with Slovakia on 18.
"The Portuguese should get ready for a big problem, which is Russia," coach Luiz Felipe Scolari told a news conference.
"Russia know they only have a chance to challenge for the first or second place in a life-or-death match with us. We have to know how to deal with that kind of game."
Defender Jorge Andrade opened the scoring after 23 minutes with a header from a Luis Figo free kick.
Figo, who gained the first of his 114 caps against Luxembourg in 1991, also provided the cross for the second goal, a 30th-minute header by defender Ricardo Carvalho.
Eight minutes later Pauleta took a long pass from Andrade and chipped goalkeeper Marc Obberweis and the Paris St Germain striker scored again after 57 to move within two goals of Eusebio's national record of 41.
Simao then claimed two in four minutes late on as Luxembourg wilted.
"Portugal have players that are favourites for the world championship, with an impressive side and above all individuals of very high quality," said Luxembourg coach Guy Hellers. "We did the best possible but we couldn't make it."
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