Cavani's delightful double for Uruguay sinks Ronaldo's Portugal

Edinson Cavani netted a beautiful goal in each half Saturday to send Uruguay into a quarter-final showdown with France.

Pepe equalised for Portugal when he rose to meet a short-corner routine after 55 minutes, but Cavani made it 2-1 and concluded the scoring seven minutes later, dispatching a swerving effort beyond the despairing reach of Rui Patricio.

Cavani sadly limped off with a knock and was therefore denied the opportunity of a World Cup hat-trick with just over 15 minutes of normal time remaining. He, along with lifelong friend and teammate Luis Suarez, were irrepressible in La Celeste's attack.

Many pre-match forecasts predicted a tense affair in Sochi that could have been decided by a penalty shootout. But Cavani and Suarez weren't following that script, with the former pinging a cross-field ball to the latter, and then running to the back stick to meet Suarez's pinpoint cross after seven minutes. Their understanding was almost telepathic, and it was yet another fantastic goal to add to the tournament's bloated highlight package.

Pepe, meanwhile, has Cristiano Ronaldo to thank for his leveller. Ronaldo, who was otherwise well below his best, drew two defenders when the cross came in, giving Pepe the rather simple task of nodding past Fernando Muslera. The joy was short-lived, with Cavani trumping his earlier tally when he met Rodrigo Bentancur's pass with a delicious first-time finish.

Although Uruguay is placed in the supposedly tougher side of the bracket, the South Americans should be confident of making a longer run in the competition. Pepe's header was the only goal Oscar Tabarez's side has conceded at this World Cup and, if Cavani is fit, Uruguay boasts a strike partnership with impeccable understanding and a ruthlessness that could trouble any defence in world football.

In addition to Uruguay's qualities, quarter-final opponent France has shown weaknesses at the World Cup, including in its 4-3 win over Argentina to reach the last eight.