Cristiano Ronaldo made a pivotal impact by scoring a late winner for Portugal, securing a 2-1 victory over Scotland in the Nations League Group A1 clash in Lisbon. The match was filled with drama, as Scotland initially stunned the hosts, taking a surprise lead just seven minutes in with a header from Scott McTominay, their only shot of the first half.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Portugal made a decisive change by introducing Ronaldo. The substitution proved crucial as the home side turned the tide in the second half. Bruno Fernandes, celebrating his 30th birthday, equalized in the 54th minute, capitalizing on a shaky moment from Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn, whose attempt to stop Fernandes’ left-footed shot ended in failure.
Despite Fernandes’ goal, Scotland’s Gunn redeemed himself by making three crucial saves, including stops against substitute Joao Felix. Ronaldo came close himself, hitting the post twice in quick succession as he pressed for a goal.
The 39-year-old’s perseverance finally paid off when he tapped in a cross from Nuno Mendes in the 88th minute, marking his 901st career goal and sealing the win for Portugal. This victory places Portugal at the top of Group A1, having won both of their opening matches.
For Scotland, the defeat was yet another heartbreaker; they sit at the bottom of the group without a single point, losing both their matches. This continues a troubling trend, as Steve Clarke’s side has managed just one win in their last 14 games, with that lone victory coming against lower-ranked Gibraltar.
In another notable match, Luka Modric, another football veteran and former teammate of Ronaldo’s at Real Madrid, showcased his talent by scoring Croatia’s winner in a 1-0 triumph over Poland. Modric’s goal came hours before he turned 39, further solidifying his status as one of football’s enduring talents.
As the Nations League progresses, Group A1 stands as follows:
- 1st: Portugal (2 games, 2 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, 6 points)
- 2nd: Croatia (2 games, 1 win, 0 draws, 1 loss, 3 points)
- 3rd: Poland (2 games, 1 win, 0 draws, 1 loss, 3 points)
- 4th: Scotland (2 games, 0 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses, 0 points)
Moving forward, Scotland faces an uphill battle as they look to secure their first points when they continue their Nations League campaign.
Credit: Sky Sports
