It may not have been the toughest test but Portugal have responded emphatically following a disappointing draw with DR Congo last week.
While a third goal ultimately proved elusive for Cristiano Ronaldo the night belongs to him after a first-half brace saw him usurp Eusebio as his country's top goalscorer at the World Cup.
For Uzbekistan their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages appear to be all but over but the debutants gave a decent account of themselves this evening despite the final score.
Meanwhile Roberto Martinez will be hoping his side can build on their momentum and live-up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites to go all the way when they take on Colombia on Saturday night.
There's been five minutes added on here but the result has not been in question since Portugal took the lead nearly two hours ago.
Cannavaro makes his final two changes of the game are given Sherzod Esanov and Ruslanbek Jiyanov are given late cameos.
Portugal have a chance to make it six but Trincao's effort just drifts wide of the post.
It's five!
Ronaldo is waiting for a ball across the box but the Uzbekistan defence manage to clear but only as far as Rafael Leao.
The second-half substitute immediately seizes on his opportunity, firing a shot into the top corner to further extend Portugal's lead.
It's another change for Portugal as Rafael Leao replaces Vitinha as they prepare to take a corner.
The AC Milan man has an instant impact as he maurades down the left wing but his final product lets him down.
Portugal are seemingly desperate to put Ronaldo in a position to claim his third goal and it appears to be working to their detriment with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Both managers make changes as we approach the closing stages at the Houston Stadium with Bernardo Silva replacing Joao Neves for Portugal.
Uzbekistan have a chance as Eldor Shomurodov receives the ball on the half volley inside the box but he is unable to keep his effort on target.
Nuno Mendes finds Ronaldo following a great run but he gets closed down after receiving the ball and his effort goes out for a goal kick.
After charging down the goalkeeper he has another opportunity to secure his hat-trick but a strong save denies him from close range.
Portugal are really turning up the heat now.
Renato Vega is booked for a careless foul just moments before our second hydration break of the evening.
It will be interesting to see if Ronaldo sees out the full 90 minutes once again or if Martinez opts to give him a rest ahead of their final group game against Colombia on Saturday night.
Bruno Fernandes sends the ensuing corner low towards the near post.
Ronaldo tries to get on the end of it but just misses it and a scramble ensues in the six-yard box with the ball eventually appearing to take a final touch off Abdukodir Khusanov before trickling in.
Could be one for the dubious goals committee.
Ronaldo is involved at the other end of the pitch as he rises high to direct an Uzbekistan corner away from the penalty box.
Portugal struggle to capitalise on a quick break but some loose defending from Fabio Cannavaro's side has gifted them a free-kick from around 35 yards out.
Surely Ronaldo will want to take this one?
After a dynamic opening 45 minutes the momentum has slowed somewhat here in the early going of the second half.
Portugal had a golden opportunity following a mistake in defence but Vithinha was unable to take advantage and the scoreline remains 3-0.
We are back underway in Texas and Portugal have a commanding lead.
Roberto Martinez has opted to make two changes at half time, with Nelson Semedo and Francisco Conceicao coming on for Pedro Neto and Joao Cancelo.
Meanwhile Uzbekistan have replaced Sherzod Nasrullaev and Odiljon Khamrobekov with Khojiakbar Alijonov and Akmal Mozgovoy.
While sterner tests lay ahead for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has been absolutely prolific in the opening 45 minutes at the Houston Stadium.
The 41-year-old has already found the net twice, and could have made it three just before the break if not for a goal line clearance.
As it stands Ronaldo is currently joint sixth in the scoring charts behind the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
But if there's anyone that could call time on his international career by claiming a first World Cup Golden Boot it is him.
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This is a completely different Portugal than the team that looked gunshy in their opening game last week.
Ronaldo was always destined to lead the line and it appears that his team-mates have found the way to most effectively utilise one of the most prolific goalscorers ever to grace the pitch.
Uzbekistan have shown signs of quality in the rare moments they have been able to get forward but those opportunities have been few and far between.
It's Ronaldo again!
Portugal have been clinical on the break and they make good on another opportunity as Bruno Fernandes slides the ball through to Ronaldo.
After latching onto the ball Ronaldo slides his shot into the far corner and doubles his tally for the game.
With his tenth goal at the World Cup finals Ronaldo has overtaken Eusebio as Portugal's all-time record goalscorer at the tournament.
The game has burst into life since Uzbekistan briefly got back into the game and they've managed to get forward on two occasions following misplaced passes from Diogo Costa.
Ronaldo is brought down and a nation hold their breath but he is back on his feet and seems to be OK.
It's an absolute thunderbolt from Azizjon Ganiev!
Uzbekistan looked to have halved the deficit as Ganiev repaid Cannavaro's faith in him with a wonderful strike from from distance.
Ultimately though a VAR check reveals a foul on Joao Cancelo in the build up and the goal is chalked off.
We enter the first hydration break of today's game with Portugal firmly in control following early goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nuno Mendes.
As it stands Portugal are top of Group K, with Colombia and DR Congo set to face off later this evening.
Portugal have a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and there was only ever going to be one man standing over it.
... or not!
Ronaldo sets himself up over the ball with his trademark stance and has the defence and goalkeeper fooled as Nuno Mendes ultimately steps in to take the set-piece, drilling it into the far corner.
Portugal looking very impressive thus far.
It's been a really positive start for Roberto Martinez's side here, they've barely given Uzbekistan a moment to breathe since Ronaldo opened the scoring.
When the first-time qualifiers do get the ball they are almost immediately dispossessed.
You get the feeling they are going to find chances hard to come by this evening.
He's done it!
Cristiano Ronaldo opens the scoring after just six minutes and in doing so becomes the first player ever to have scored at six different World Cups.
The ball comes in from Joao Cancelo and Ronaldo gets ahead of his marker and lashes home from close range.
Portugal have wasted little time seizing the initiative here and the first chance of the game falls to Bruno Fernandes who is unable to convert in a packed penalty box.
Nuno Mendes then fires a cross towards Ronaldo but the 41-year-old is unable to get on the end of it.
Uzbekistan kick off and we are underway!
Cristiano Ronaldo's presence in that forward line can be felt in more ways than one, but can he get off the mark in the 2026 World Cup this evening?
Football is a game of opinions. Those of a certain generation might still argue Diego Maradona trumps Lionel Messi, some believe Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ were better than Manchester United’s Treble-winning team, while the Scholes/Gerrard/Lampard debate still tediously rumbles on.
Read Liam Williams' feature on Ronaldo's current place for Portugal here :
Despite his recent struggles in front of goal, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the favourite to open the scoring this evening, ahead of the likes of Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto.
Of the Uzbekistan players Eldor Shomurodov is the favourite, the 30-year-old striker is his country's all-time record goalscorer and finished joint-top of the Turkish Super Lig scoring charts last season.
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Uzbekistan are determined to secure their first World Cup point and manager Fabio Cannavaro has made three changes to the team that were beaten by Colombia.
Goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov has been dropped after conceding three in the opening game, to be replaced by the relatively inexperienced Abduvohid Nematov.
Meanwhile Aziz Ganiev and Odiljon Hamrobekov also come into the starting XI.
Uzbekistan : Nematov; Khusanov, Ashurmatov, Nasrullaev, Abdullaev, Karimov; Shukurov, Hamrobekov, Ganiev, Fayzullaev; Shomurodov. Subs : Yusupov, Ergashev, Alijonov, Sayfiev, Eshmurodov, Ulmasaliyev, Urozov, Mozgovoy, Iskanderov, Jiyanov, Urunov, Khamdamov, Esanov, Amanov, Sergeev.
