- Portugal overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a dramatic 5-2 win after extra time in Lisbon
- Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty early but later scored and assisted
- Francisco Trincao netted twice, including the decisive extra-time goal
Key takeaways:
Portugal defeated Denmark 5:2 after extra time in the second leg of the Nations League quarter-finals and advanced to the last-4 of the tournament. In regular time, the match ended in a dramatic 3:2. The first leg in Copenhagen had finished 1:0 in favour of the “Red Dynamite”. Thus, the Iberians went through with a 5:3 aggregate score.
Cristiano Ronaldo received a Guinness World Record ahead of the match for recording the most wins in men’s international football history with 132. The ceremony took place shortly before kick-off, adding further significance to the night for the Portuguese captain.
The game predictably began with pressure from the home side. As early as the 3rd minute, the Portuguse team was awarded a penalty. Referee Slavko Vincic pointed to the spot for a foul by Patrick Dorgu on Ronaldo. However, the 40-year-old star failed to beat Kasper Schmeichel, who saved his shot from the spot.
Cristiano Ronaldo received a Guinness World Record for most wins in men's international football (132) ahead of Portugal vs. Denmark 🌟 pic.twitter.com/xIuzUz4CiQ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 23, 2025
In the 17th minute, Ronaldo once again couldn’t find the net, heading straight at Schmeichel. Shortly after, Denmark responded with a strike by Hojlund, which was saved by Diogo Costa.
The hosts took the lead in the 38th minute. Following a corner, Joakim Andersen jumped to clear but inadvertently headed the ball into his own net – 1:0. Just before the break, Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net with a close-range header. However, the goal was ruled out due to an offside position by Rafa Leao earlier in the move.
Shortly after the restart, the Danes nearly equalised. In the 48th minute, Morten Hjulmand sent a powerful shot toward Diogo Costa’s net, but the ball went inches wide of the post. In the 56th minute, the visitors managed to draw level. Rasmus Kristensen scored with a header following a corner for 1:1.
Portugal reclaimed the lead in the 72nd minute. Bruno Fernandes shot from distance, the ball hit the post, bounced off Kasper Schmeichel, and fell kindly to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was in the right place to fire home from a tight angle for 2:1.
The Portuguese joy was short-lived, though. In the 77th minute, Ruben Dias lost the ball too easily near the touchline. Patrick Dorgu crossed along the goal line, and Christian Eriksen turned the ball into the net to make it 2:2.
In the 79th minute, Portugal could have retaken the lead. Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball in an excellent position inside the box and unleashed a powerful strike, but Schmeichel produced a superb save to deny him.
The hosts kept pushing forward and in the 86th minute grabbed their third goal. Schmeichel failed to deal with a cross, and the ball landed at the feet of Francisco Trincao, who volleyed it into the net for 3:2.
That led to extra time where Trincao scored again to become the night’s hero. Goncalo Ramos had his shot saved by Schmeichel, but Trincao was fastest to the rebound, slotting it home – 4:2. In the 115th minute, Goncalo Ramos made the score 5:2, putting the game beyond Denmark’s reach.