Portugal faced Denmark in the second leg of the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, trailing 1-0 from the first match. In a thrilling encounter, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized with a key goal.
The game began with a twist when, in the 38th minute, Denmark’s Joachim Andersen scored an own goal while attempting to defend Ronaldo’s header. However, Denmark quickly responded, with Rasmus Kristensen equalizing in the 56th minute, forcing Portugal to score again to take the match into extra time.
In the 72nd minute, Bruno Fernandes unleashed a powerful strike that rattled the post and then deflected off goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Ronaldo was quick to pounce on the rebound, netting the equalizer and making it 2-1, leveling the overall score at 2-2.
Denmark regained the lead in the 76th minute after Patrick Dorgu capitalized on a mistake by Ruben Dias. His accurate cross found Christian Eriksen, who scored to put Denmark 2-1 ahead, putting Portugal’s hopes in jeopardy. But just 10 minutes later, Francisco Trincao scored a stunning strike to bring the aggregate score level again at 3-3.
Portugal secured a 5-2 victory in aggregate time, with Trincao’s brace, a goal from Ramos, and Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel unable to use his left arm due to an injury. As a result, Ronaldo’s national team advanced to the Nations League Final Four, set for June.
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Cristiano Ronaldo gets subbed off
Immediately following Trincao’s equalizer, Ronaldo approached coach Roberto Martinez, seemingly to discuss an undisclosed matter. The surprise came a few minutes later when Martinez made the bold decision to substitute Ronaldo in the 90+1 minute, bringing on striker Goncalo Ramos.
The Al Nassr forward appeared visibly frustrated, not with the decision but with what seemed to be a sense of pain. No official update has been provided on Ronaldo’s condition, but the unexpected substitution—especially with still 30 minutes of potential play or penalty shootouts remaining—left fans shocked and puzzled.
