On Sunday, Portugal advanced to the Nations League semifinals by defeating Denmark 5-3 on aggregate. The second leg was a thrilling contest, with Portugal winning 5-2 after extra time. Portugal will face Germany,
the hosts of the Finals, in the last four in June after overcoming a 1-0 first-leg deficit to Denmark. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty but subsequently scored a critical goal. Francisco Trincao’s late double put Roberto Martinez’s team on track for the semis. However, Portugal ultimately advanced the contest to extra time at 3-2 on the night, despite Denmark’s two-point aggregate lead. In the 38th minute,
Joachim Andersen’s frantic clearance resulted in a disastrous looping into his own goal, bringing Portugal to a point on aggregate. However, Rasmus Kristensen’s cool header at a corner, where he was unmarked, restored Denmark’s aggregate lead on 56 minutes. Ronaldo atoned for his penalty error by scoring on a rebound with 18 minutes remaining. However, Christian Eriksen silenced the home crowd four minutes later by slotting into an open goal.
On the sixth minute, Denmark’s custodian, Kasper Schmeichel, dived left and held the ball comfortably while staring down Ronaldo’s halting run-up to save a fluffed spot-kick.Substitute winger Trincao then sent the game to extra time with a late, left-footed strike while playing at his home stadium, Sporting Lisbon. He scored
his second goal shortly after the resumption, guiding it through a plethora of players to secure Portugal’s lead. Subsequently, Trincao participated in the preparation for Goncalo Ramos’s decisive strike during a fierce confrontation. Denmark’s stoic resistance and Portugal’s unwavering attack ensured a battle that swayed either way multiple times, resulting in a departure with their heads held high,
despite the fact that they arrived with a first-leg lead from Thursday. Portugal, the inaugural tournament winners in 2019, are striving to become the first team to win the Nations League trophy for a second time. (This story is published from a syndicated news agency feed and has not been edited by News18 staff.)
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