ALGARVE, Portugal: Global football star Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Portugal beat Qatar 3-0 at Algarve Stadium on Saturday. Now playing for Manchester United, Ronaldo clipped one into the net following a defensive error from Bassam Al Rawi in the 37th minute. Jose Fonte doubled the lead in the 48th minute while Andre Silva (90th minute) added the third. Early in the match, 2016 Euro champions Portugal dominated with ball possession in the first few minutes, but Qatar defenders did well to stay alert to every threat. In the 7th minute, Ronaldo pass over Andre Gómez was claimed as a penalty, but the referee ignored the calls from Portugal players. In the 16th minute, Goncalo Guedes produced a fierce shot that was saved by Qatar’s number one goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb as Portugal missed another chance to score. Ronaldo had a header, but Al Sheeb once again remained alert to stop the threatening move in the 25th minute. In the 34th minute, Qatar’s influential striker Al Moez Ali was flagged off-side despite being one-on-one in the Portugal penalty box. Three minutes later, Ronaldo scored for Portugal on a defensive error by Al Rawi inside the Qatar box. With a loose ball at his mercy, Ronaldo drilled a low shot with ease into the net from close range. It was Ronaldo’s 112th career goal for Portugal. Fonte made it 2-0 for Portugal, coached by Fernando Santos, when he flicked a ball into the net from close range after Qatar keeper Al Sheeb had blocked a header off a free-kick. In the 55th minute, Afif was shown a yellow card for a rough tackle on Guedes. In the 70th minute, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez benched Hassan Al Haydos and brought in Abdullah Alahrak. Andre Silva drilled a left-footed drive three minutes later, but Qatar keeper Al Sheeb was quick to thwart the danger. In the 82nd minute, Portugal’s Rafael Leao hit the Qatar crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box. In the dying seconds, Silva produced a snap-header for Portugal’s third goal. Qatar now face the Republic of Ireland in their next 2022 World Cup, European Zone, qualifying match on Tuesday. Qatar players return to Doha on Wednesday, and national team players resume playing matches in the QNB Stars League.