Portugal advanced to the Nations League quarterfinals on Friday with a dominant second half performance that saw Cristiano Ronaldo score twice as they defeated Poland 5-1, while Spain, who were already qualified, defeated Denmark. With one game remaining, Roberto Martinez’s Portugal secured the top spot in Group A1, guaranteeing their berth in the March round. Italy, France, and Germany have already advanced to the round of eight. Poland was superior early on, but they didn’t take any chances in Porto, and the host team punished them by scoring four goals in the final 20 minutes.
“We couldn’t impose ourselves on the game in the first half,” Rafael Leao, the goal scorer for Portugal, stated.
“(Coach) Roberto Martinez’s approach in the locker room was important; it was the key to changing the pressure at half-time.”
Portugal failed to generate a shot on goal in the first half, and Ronaldo volleyed over from close range just before the intermission.
In the 58th minute, Portugal’s Diogo Costa made a spectacular fingertip save to deny Dominik Marczuk, who nearly broke the tie.
Less than 60 seconds later, the home team scored from the resultant corner as Leao surged forward, found Nuno Mendes, and then ran on to meet the Paris Saint-Germain full-back’s cross with a powerful header.
When Diogo Dalot’s attempt slid off Jakub Kiwior’s palm at close range and Marcin Bulka stopped it, the referee awarded Portugal a penalty.
With ten minutes remaining, Fernandes gave Portugal a third goal by smashing the ball in off the crossbar from well outside the area, ending any chance Poland had of pulling together a comeback.
After catching Ronaldo’s ball and firing past Bulka at his near post, Pedro Neto also scored.
In the 87th minute, Ronaldo acrobatically volleyed home Vitinha’s cross from close range, giving him the opportunity to double his total and reach 135 international goals.
In the other group game, Scotland defeated 10-man Croatia 1-0 thanks to a late goal from John McGinn, greatly boosting their chances of escaping the basement.
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