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#2 The spectre of VAR loomed
All across Europe, the Video Assistant Referee system has been embraced and implemented, however, UEFA has opted not to utilise the system in the current European qualifiers. The system will instead be used in Euro 2020 next summer.
VAR has been instrumental time and again all over Europe this season, as crucial decisions have been made thanks to the system. In this encounter, the importance of VAR was re-enforced on a couple of occasions, as the referee missed some calls that were quite obvious after video replays.
In the 26th minute, a Luxembourg shot was punched away by Rui Patricio, but the referee and his assistants somehow missed it and didn't award a corner. Late on in the game, Cristiano Ronaldo was brought down in the penalty area, and to his consternation, he wasn't awarded a penalty. Video replays proved he was fouled, and it should have been given.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo continues to dazzle in front of goal
The irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo was up to his old tricks once again, as he continually tormented the Luxembourg rearguard, pelting the goal area with shot after shot. He started his onslaught as early as the second minute when his shot from outside the box just missed its mark.
He was eventually rewarded for his persistence in the 65th minute as he pressed a Luxembourg defender into an error before beautifully chipping the ball past Anthony Moris for the second goal of the game.
That was Ronaldo's 699th goal for club and country, a very unique milestone, and the former Real Madrid marksman is showing no signs of slowing down.
Ronaldo also further strengthened his position as Europe's top goal-getter, as he sits atop second-placed Ferenc Puskas with a difference of 10 goals after his strike against the Red Lions. He now has 94 goals in 161 appearances.
