Portugal players celebrate after Portugal's Diogo Jota scored his side's third goal during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Azerbaijan and Portugal at the Olympic stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)
The Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) - Portugal overcame the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo to comfortably defeat Azerbaijan 3-0 and take the lead in its World Cup qualifying group on Tuesday.
Bernardo Silva, André Silva and Diogo Jota scored a goal each to give Portugal a two-point lead over Serbia, which conceded late in a 1-1 draw at Ireland in the other Group A match. The away victory gave Portugal 13 points from five matches.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic gave Serbia the lead in Dublin with a 20th-minute header off a corner kick but the hosts equalized with an 87th-minute own-goal by defender Nikola Milenkovic.
Ronaldo was serving a suspension for accumulation of yellow cards. He was released from the squad after netting his 110th and 111th goals in Portugal's 2-1 win over Ireland last week, becoming the men's all-time top scorer in international soccer. He had been tied with former Iranian striker Ali Daei at 109 goals.
'œWe could have scored more goals, we created several chances,'ť Portugal coach Fernando Santos said. 'œIf we had been more efficient in front of the goal, the score would have been even better.'ť
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring from inside the area in the 26th minute by flicking the ball into the top corner with the outside of his left foot. André Silva, playing in Ronaldo's position up front, added to the lead from close range five minutes later, and Jota sealed the victory with a header in the 75th.
In the final minutes of the match, some fans entered the field and took photos with Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
Winless Azerbaijan stayed in last place in the group with one point from five matches. It hosts Ireland in the next round in October.
Serbia will next visit Luxembourg, which is also Portugal's next opponent. Luxembourg is third in the group with six points from four matches.
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Portugal's Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Azerbaijan and Portugal at the Olympic stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)
The Associated Press
Portugal's Joao Palhinha, left, challenges for the ball with Azerbaijan's Mahir Emreli during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Azerbaijan and Portugal at the Olympic stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)
The Associated Press
Azerbaijan's Filip Ozobic, right, challenges for the ball with Portugal's Joao Palhinha during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Azerbaijan and Portugal at the Olympic stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Aziz Karimov)
The Associated Press
Republic of Ireland's Shane Duffy, right, and John Egan celebrate after Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scores an own goal past his goalkeeper during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press
Republic of Ireland's Shane Duffy, front, and John Egan celebrate after Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scores an own goal past his goalkeeper during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press
Serbia's Filip Kostic, right, jumps for the ball with Republic of Ireland's Matt Doherty during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press
Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press
Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, left, duels for the ball with Republic of Ireland's Alan Browne during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press
Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press
Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, right, celebrates with Dusan Tadic after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press
Republic of Ireland's Matt Doherty, right, jumps for the ball with Serbia's Filip Kostic during the World Cup 2022 group A qualifying soccer match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
The Associated Press