Portugal secured a spot in the Nations League quarterfinals thanks to two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. The 39-year-old scored a penalty and a stunning overhead kick to lead them to a dominant 5-1 victory over Poland in Group A1 on Friday. Portugal netted five goals in the second half, dominating Poland in Porto to secure their spot in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Nations League.
How It Happened
Rafael Leão put the home team ahead just before the 60-minute mark. He scored with a header from a Nuno Mendes cross after making an impressive run from his half into the Polish side’s territory. Ronaldo scored again with a penalty, making it two goals for his team. Then, Bruno Fernandes fired a fantastic shot from the edge of the box that hit the bottom of the crossbar and went in for a third goal. Neto scored the fourth goal with a clever shot in the box, and then captain Ronaldo capped off the impressive second half with a fantastic bicycle kick from just a few yards out.
Dominik Marczuk scored for Poland with a nice shot from the edge of the box, but with just two minutes remaining, it was only a consolation goal. Poland created more opportunities early on but found themselves trailing. Their ability to score was hampered by the absence of their top scorer, Robert Lewandowski, who missed the match due to a back injury. Portugal on the other hand had their top scorer Ronaldo available to play. Ronaldo proved to be the difference as he scored two goals for Portugal.
Poland Wasteful In the First Half
Even though the home team played strongly and decisively in the second half, Poland was likely the better team in the first half and should have earned the lead by halftime. The team kept pushing into the Portuguese penalty area, and Bartosz Bereszynski had a great chance to score with a free header but missed. Krzysztof Piatek also came close, sending his shot just inches wide from the edge of the box.
Portugal had their best and only real chance of the half in the final moments when Ronaldo missed from just a few yards out after a header from Leao that went across the six-yard box. The visitors got lucky this time, but it hinted at what was to come in the second half. Portugal returned for the second half looking like a completely different team. Neto and Leao quickly posed a threat, and just 14 minutes into the second half, Leao scored the first goal. After Ronaldo scored a penalty, Martinez’s team quickly added to their lead. In just 15 minutes, they found the net again, making it feel like they were scoring with every attack.
Leao Named Man Of Match
The moment that truly took the wind out of Poland was Leao’s header that opened the scoring. This was the most important moment, even though he was only involved in one of the five goals. The winger stood out and caused problems for the Polish defenders on the right side of the field. Leo’s goal showcased his ability to push forward with the ball and help his team advance on the field. At the end of the match, he was named man of the match.
Conclusion
Portugal understood that a win was necessary to reach the quarter-finals. With Scotland defeating Croatia in the other group match, this victory also guarantees the top position for Martinez’s team. Portugal has now joined Italy, Spain, France, and Germany in the quarterfinals, while Poland’s chances of advancing from Group A1 have come to an end. Poland has four points, putting them on equal footing with Steve Clarke’s Scotland at the bottom of the group. On Monday, the two countries will face off in an important match that will determine who escapes automatic relegation.
