Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice in 3-0 win

OPORTO, Portugal, Oct 8 (Reuters) Winger Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal beat Azerbaijan 3-0 in their Euro 2008 Group A qualifier.

It was Portugal's first win in two qualifiers following a 1-1 draw in Finland last month. They meet Poland away on Wednesday.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari told RTP television he had not expected the game to be easy, adding ''we had to shoot, to experiment, to shoot from outside he area.

''We have a team which knows the routine, which has played together for a long time. Time is helping us,'' Scolari said.

Ronaldo opened the scoring after 25 minutes when he gave goalkeeper Farhad Veliyev no chance with a shot inside the box from a pass by playmaker Deco.

Defender Ricardo Carvalho doubled the lead when he shot home after Ronaldo's free kick had been parried by Veliyev after half an hour.

The Manchester United player scored his second and Portugal's third after 63 minutes when he headed in a cross from the right by Simao Sabrosa.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, Ronaldo said: ''We have a very difficult game against Poland, I hope we will be in form.'' In the last minute, substitute Vagif Javadov had a good chance to score a consolation goal but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira.

Reuters PM KP0906