WC Qualifiers: Ronaldo lifts Portugal, Belgium net 8

Cristiano Ronaldo converted one penalty, missed another and also scored from open play as Portugal beat Latvia 4-1 in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

On a typically dramatic night for the Portugal captain, Ronaldo fired the European champions ahead from his first spot kick of the evening in the first half, but missed a chance to double their lead when his second effort struck the post.

It looked a costly miss when Arturs Zjuzins equalised for Latvia in the 68th minute but William Carvalho headed Portugal back in front two minutes later, Ronaldo volleyed the third and Bruno Alves completed the win.

Portugal stayed second in Group B with nine points from four games, three behind leaders Switzerland.

Portugal survived an early scare when a corner landed at the feet of Igors Tarasovs but he failed to connect cleanly and Rui Patricio saved.

After being restricted to long-range shots, Portugal broke the deadlock when Nani was tripped by Gints Freimanis and Ronaldo fired low to Andris Vanins' right in the 28th minute.

Portugal won another penalty when Glebs Kluskins tripped Andre Gomes in the 58th minute but this time Ronaldo, who also missed a penalty in the Euro 2016 match against Austria, saw his shot hit the inside of the post and roll across the goal.

Ten minutes later, Latvia, who had barely got out of their own half, equalised when substitute Zjuzins scored with his second attempt from the edge of the area.

But midfielder Carvalho came to the rescue two minutes later when he headed his first international goal from Ricardo Quaresma's cross.

Another Quaresma cross led to the third as it found Ronaldo at the far post and Portugal's all-time leading scorer volleyed home his 68th international goal.

Ronaldo then missed an easy chance for his hat-trick from Renato Sanches' pass and also headed against the crossbar before Alves headed in Raphael Guerreiro's chipped cross at the far post.

Depay double spares Dutch blushes in Luxembourg

Memphis Depay spared the blushes of the Netherlands with two second half goals as they won 3-1 in Luxembourg in an unexpectedly tricky World Cup qualifier on Sunday. Depay came on to score just before the hour mark and break the deadlock as the Netherlands were still being held 1-1 in a match they were expected to win comfortably.

The Manchester United striker rose to head home an inch-perfect cross from club mate Daley Blind from point blank range in the 58th minute to hand the momentum back to the Dutch after Luxembourg had fought back into the match.

Depay then scored his second, bending a free kick over the wall in the 83rd minute to help the Netherlands advance to seven points in Group A, three behind leaders France.

The Dutch had gone ahead in the 36th minute through Arjen Robben, playing his first international in a year.

Injury had kept Robben out of the team since last November but he suffered another muscle strain before halftime and had to be replaced.

The Dutch then gave away a penalty just before halftime which Maxime Chanot converted.

Luxembourg brought on a 16-year-old substitute Vincent Thill to make his debut near the end of the game but they still lie bottom of the table with only a single point from their four matches.

Brussels rout as Belgium dish up eight-goal feast

Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Belgium destroyed Estonia 8-1 to seize top spot outright in World Cup Group H qualifying on Sunday.

Coach Roberto Martinez's men also struck through Thomas Meunier, Eden Hazard, Yannick Carrasco and an own goal from Ragnar Klavan, with the first three coming inside the opening 25 minutes.

Estonia replied just before the half-hour through Henri Anier but it was a lonely highlight for the Baltic nation who are second from bottom with three points. Meunier's first international goal after eight minutes began the deluge as he timed a run to the back post perfectly to head home Carrasco's cross.

Mertens' shot from outside the area took a wicked deflection for the second goal after 16 minutes and Hazard made it 3-0 with a powerful drive after a swift attacking move.

A rare defensive slip then allowed Anier to turn and beat keeper Thibaut Courtois before the break.

Belgium added three more goals in six minutes soon after the hour mark as they claimed their fourth group victory.

Unmarked Carrasco finished off a square pass from Lukaku before Klavan steered a centre by Mertens into his own net.

Mertens then grabbed his second goal with a chip over the goalkeeper after Lukaku's effort had been well saved.

Lukaku was rewarded for his contribution when his 83rd- minute shot took a deflection to leave goalkeeper Mihkel Aksalu with no chance.

The Everton striker was then fed five minutes later with a clever ball from midfield and he raced towards goal before shooting into the corner of the net.

Belgium have 12 points from four games, two ahead of second-placed Greece and five in front of Bosnia who are third.

Greece were held 1-1 at home by Bosnia on Sunday.