Denmark 2-4 Portugal: Ramos bags goal & assist as Jesus' side triumph amid Ronaldo exit drama

Portugal made light of Cristiano Ronaldo's absence as they earned a thrilling 4-2 away win over Denmark in the Nations League on Thursday.

Match Report

The defending champions were playing their first game since Ronaldo abruptly left their camp on Wednesday, saying he would "tell the truth" about his reported row with head coach Jorge Jesus "in due time".

But Portugal did not miss the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in Copenhagen, with Joao Cancelo, Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha and Joao Felix scoring to keep them perfect after three games in Group A4.

After Rasmus Hojlund failed to get a touch on Adam Daghim's ball across the face of the Portugal goal, the visitors started to take control of the game, with Ramos turning Cancelo's scuffed cross-shot against the left post.

But the Selecao did have the lead just nine seconds after that near miss. Daghim's attempt to kickstart a Denmark counter-attack was cut out by Cancelo, who exchanged passes with Ramos before clipping a cute finish over Mads Hermansen.

Wearing the iconic number seven shirt following Ronaldo's departure, Rafael Leao forced Hermansen into action before Denmark struck back in stunning fashion, Mikkel Damsgaard curling a glorious effort into the far corner from the left of the box in the 23rd minute. 

But the hosts were not level for long, as Ramos finished off another lovely Portugal move two minutes later. He backheeled skilfully to Fernandes before darting in behind, racing onto the Portugal captain's return pass and prodding into the near corner.  

Hermansen denied Ramos and Fernandes either side of half-time, with the first of those saves coming after he cheaply conceded possession himself, but Hojlund got Denmark level eight minutes after the restart. He lobbed Diogo Costa following Damsgaard's defence-splitting pass, then taunted Portugal by copying Ronaldo's iconic "siuuu" celebration.

Portugal refused to go away, though, and after Ramos' acrobatic effort whistled over the crossbar, Vitinha ghosted onto Fernandes' cross and nodded past Hermansen at his near post with 67 minutes on the clock.

And there was still time for Ronaldo's Al-Nassr team-mate Joao Felix to add a fourth goal, sweeping a cutback from fellow substitute Diogo Dalot home three minutes from time.

Portugal attack thrives without Ronaldo

As is so often the case with Portugal, all the headlines in the build-up to Thursday's game were dominated by one man.

Ronaldo may be the all-time leading scorer in men's internationals, finding the net 146 times in 234 outings for Portugal, but Jesus responded firmly when asked about the forward's shock departure, saying: "It will never be any player that will change my ideas as coach. Never. Not him, not anyone in football."

And, at least on this evidence, perhaps Portugal are better off without Ronaldo in their lineup. 

The combinations for their first two goals – both of which involved Ramos, the man leading the line in Ronaldo's absence – were slick, and they generated 19 shots and 2.74 expected goals (xG) throughout the game, compared to Denmark's 12 shots and 0.67 xG. 

Hojlund celebrated mischievously after making it 2-2, but of all the goals, Vitinha's looked the most like something out of the Ronaldo playbook. Despite his stature as one of the shortest players on the pitch, the Paris Saint-Germain star scored his first senior international goal – on his 46th cap – with a perfect downward header.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Højlund made a siu celebration after equalizing for Denmark

7' Ramos has a shot from distance which is blocked

7' Dias gets a crucial touch, and Mæhle’s follow-up effort from range doesn’t trouble Diogo Costa

12' GOAL! Cancelo opens the scoring after great set-up with Ramos! Denmark 0-1 Portugal

12' Hjulmand has a shot but misses the target

15' Match Event for Denmark vs Portugal

22' Highlight from Denmark vs Portugal

22' Leão unleashes a right-footed effort that forces Hermansen to parry the ball behind for a corner

23' GOAL! Denmark are level through a brilliant Damsgaard strike! Denmark 1-1 Portugal

25' GOAL! Ramos scores to help visitors regain the lead! Denmark 1-2 Portugal

35' Neves has an effort on goal which is saved

40' Ramos gets a touch on it but is denied by Mads Hermansen

47' Match Event for Denmark vs Portugal

53' GOAL! Højlund dinks it past Costa and equalizes for hosts! Denmark 2-2 Portugal

62' Fernandes’ floated ball over the top finds Ramos, but he can’t keep his volley down

64' Highlight from Denmark vs Portugal

67' GOAL! Bruno delivers an inch-perfect ball and Vitinha heads home! Denmark 2-3 Portugal

Line-ups

Denmark XI: Hojbjerg, Andersen, Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, Joakim Maehle, Mikkel Damsgaard, Morten Hjulmand, Mohamed Daramy, Mads Hermansen, Oliver Provstgaard, Højlund, Adam Daghim

Subs: Victor Nelsson, N. Nartey, Olsen, Kasper Høgh, Gustav Isaksen, Jørgensen, Mads Bidstrup, Andreas Jungdal, Anton Gaaei, Thomas Jørgensen, Lucas Høgsberg, Victor Froholdt

Portugal XI: Cancelo, Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Diogo Costa, Pedro Neto, Leao, Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes, Renato Veiga

Subs: Rui Silva, Palhinha, Bernardo Silva, Dalot, Francisco Trincão, Felix, Nuno Tavares, Fábio Silva, Samuel Soares, Tomás Araújo, Gonçalo Inácio, João Neves