23 June, 2017
Ronaldo netted the victor of the game with a first-half header to send the European champions to the top of Group A and all but secure a place in next week's semi-finals.
In continuation of their 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup campaign, all four sides return on Saturday to see whether they will advance to the semi-finals.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo jumps for the ball during the Confederations Cup, Group A soccer match between Russian Federation and Portugal, at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
Stanislav Cherchesov attempted to inject more attacking threat into the team as the second half wore on, introducing Dmitry Poloz and Aleksandr Bukharov in place of defenders Dmitry Kombaraov and Fedor Kudryashov - who in particular suffered a torrid evening at the hands of Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva on Russia's left flank.
Ronaldo said he was "very happy with the result", considering that "we played against the home crowd".
All Whites coach Anthony Hudson conceded the game was physical but suggested the competitive display of his unfancied team was behind the Mexicans' angry response to some incidents. "We appeared less apprehensive", he said.
Christiano Ronaldo 32, the Real Madrid striker who although recently signed a 5-yearar contract with his team back in November now wants out of Spain after Spanish prosecutors accused him of tax fraud of which he denies.
It was their first goal in 555 minutes of Confederations Cup football before Raul Jimenez and Oribe Peralta scored second-half goals for Mexico as the Kiwis faded.
"Raphael went to hospital, we think he might have fractured his leg", Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.
Only a superb one-handed reflex save from Akinfeev, who made his 100th global appearance, stopped Andre Silva's bullet header just after the break.
In spite of their best efforts, particularly in the second half, the tournament hosts could not find a way past Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio in this Group A encounter.
Portugal's midweek delight was in stark contrast to New Zealand's heartbreak at going down 2-1 to Mexico in Sochi.
In the first half, the new Zealanders are in no way inferior to one of the favorites of the group A, and therefore wood's goal shortly before half-time did not surprise anyone.
Russian Federation are third in Group A with three points, one behind co-leaders Portugal and Mexico.
"We know how to adapt to different opponents".
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Portugal's win took them to the top of their group ahead of Mexico's game against New Zealand moments after.
"I should've had probably two more".
The Oceania champions took a shock lead when Clayton Lewis threaded his pass between two defenders to Wood, who coolly fired home on 42 minutes.