Moscow: Cristiano Ronaldo's 74th senior international goal was enough to earn Portugal victory over hosts Russia in the Confederations Cup.
The 32-year-old Real Madrid forward's early header secured a 1-0 win at Moscow's Spartak Stadium and left Fernando Santos' men on four points, a point clear of their opponents, at the top of Group A.
Only goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, winning his 100th cap, denied Portugal victory by a greater margin as he made vital saves from Ronaldo and Andre Silva either side of half-time.
Russia were poor before half-time and although they improved after it, they were repeatedly forced back on the break as they committed men forward in search of an equaliser.
Ronaldo, making his 141st appearance for his country, needed just eight minutes to make his mark, although the opening goal was far from all his own work.
With Russia attempting to sit deep and deny Portugal space in midfield, Raphaël Guerreiro found space on the left flank and delivered an inviting cross to the far post, where Ronaldo made the most of defender Fedor Kudriashov's misjudgment to head home.
Ronaldo proved the main threat throughout the first half as the hosts offered little going forward, and he tested Akinfeev with a 25th-minute free kick before forcing the keeper to block with his legs seven minutes later.
Russia might have been level as the half-time whistle approached, but striker Fedor Smolov could not adjust his feet in time to steer Aleksandr Golovin's cross on target.
Captain Akinfeev kept his side in it when he clawed away Silva's 50th-minute header from close range, and he was in the right place at the right time to repel Cédric Soares' long-range effort nine minutes later.
Russia, who beat New Zealand 2-0 in their opening fixture, belatedly launched their push and might have been level just after the hour when Alexander Samedov's teasing cross was only fractionally too high for Smolov in the middle.
Ronaldo passed up a glorious opportunity to extend his side's lead just past the hour when he headed wide from Andre Gomes' cross as Portugal broke at pace.
However, it was Russia who finished strongly with substitute Aleksandr Bukharov appealing in vain for a last-gasp penalty after going down in the box, before defender Georgy Dzhikya headed inches over Rui Patricio's crossbar deep into injury time.
Meanwhile, Cristiano is ready to pay Spain's tax authorities $16.39 million - the amount he has been accused of defrauding by a prosecutor - ahead of a court hearing next month, Spanish state TV said on Wednesday.
Broadcaster TVE said, without identifying its sources, the 32-year-old would make this payment as a gesture of good will.
The report added Rolando will reiterate at a hearing on July 31 that he is innocent and has never hidden any income from the taxman or committed any tax fraud in Spain. Representatives for Ronaldo declined to comment.
The Spanish prosecutor says the Real Madrid forward knowingly used a business structure to hide his image rights income in Spain between 2011 and 2014. Ronaldo has denied the charges.