Portugal 5-2 Denmark (agg 5-3): Ronaldo guides hosts to thrilling comeback win

Portugal eventually overturned a one-goal deficit from the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final tie against Denmark, winning 5-2 after extra time at the Estadio Jose Alvalade to advance 5-3 on aggregate.

Match Report

The Selecao were staring at elimination when a Christian Eriksen goal put Denmark 3-2 up on aggregate with 14 minutes of the 90 to play, but Sporting CP forward Francisco Trincao came off the bench to force extra time.

Trincao then inched Portugal ahead at the start of extra time, and Goncalo Ramos scored their clinching goal as they teed up a last-four meeting with Germany.

Portugal almost hit the front within three minutes of kick-off as Cristiano Ronaldo won a penalty, but their captain's atrociously tame attempt was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

However, Joachim Andersen steered a header into his own net late in the first half to ensure Portugal went into the break level at 1-1 on aggregate.

Rasmus Kristensen put Denmark back in the driving seat in the 56th minute as his header nestled in the bottom-right corner, but Ronaldo atoned for his earlier miss with a timely finish after a Bruno Fernandes attempt struck the post in the 72nd minute.

Denmark responded swiftly, making it 3-2 on aggregate just four minutes later as Manchester United duo Patrick Dorgu and Eriksen combined for the latter to tap in.

But the decisive moments came from Trincao, who proved the hero with two lovely finishes into opposite corners of the net, either side of the 90-minute whistle.

With Portugal now ahead on aggregate, Diogo Jota had a goal ruled out for offside in the 105th minute, but Ramos added some gloss with a simple shot into an open net five minutes before time.

Data debrief: Portugal's barren run over

Portugal's first goal ended a run of 202 minutes without netting in the Nations League, their longest since going 188 minutes without scoring from June to September 2022, but the hosts required the help of an opposition player in Andersen to do so.

Portugal certainly created plenty of chances, finishing the match with an impressive total of 3.33 expected goals (xG) to Denmark's 1.98.

But Denmark rallied well each time the hosts struck, and some poor finishing kept them frustrated until substitutes Trincao and Ramos struck late to secure the win.

Even Ronaldo, whose one goal came from a game-high six shots worth 1.64 xG, was unable to get Portugal in the ascendency before Trincao was sent on by Roberto Martinez in the 81st minute.

Denmark, to their credit, gave Portugal a tough test. They managed 14 shots — 10 of which came inside the penalty area — yet only four efforts found the target as they were ultimately overpowered.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Match Event for Portugal vs Denmark

6' Penalty Missed! Ronaldo shoots for left side of goal but Schmeichel all over it!

16' Ronaldo’s header is blocked by Schmeichel after a cross from Mendes!

24' Hojlund shoots from the left, but Costa saves with a diving stop!

38' OWN GOAL! Andersen ends up steering it into the net! Portugal 1-0 Denmark

45' Ronaldo headed a stoppage-time goal, but the referee disallowed it for a foul!

48' Hjulmand misses, firing wide past the far post after a swift run into the box!

56' GOAL! Rasmus Kristensen heads it towards the right post! Portugal 1-1 Denmark

62' Highlight from Portugal vs Denmark

70' Match Event for Portugal vs Denmark

72' GOAL! Ronaldo scores past Schmeichel to equal aggregate! Portugal 2-1 Denmark

76' GOAL! Eriksen taps it into the open net! Portugal 4-2 Denmark

86' GOAL! Trincão smashes shot into bottom-left corner of goal! Portugal 4-2 Denmark

90' With extra time beckoning, Ronaldo is taken off for Goncalo Ramos!

91' GOAL! Trincão threads through narrow gap at the left post! Portugal 4-2 Denmark

104' Match Event for Portugal vs Denmark

115' GOAL! Portugal 5-2 Denmark (Gonçalo Ramos)

Line-ups

Portugal XI: Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Costa, Dalot, Leao, Vitinha, Francisco Conceição, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inácio

Subs: Rui Silva, Semedo, Jose Sa, Neves, Palhinha, Jota, Trincão, Felix, Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, João Neves, Geovany Quenda

Denmark XI: Schmeichel, Eriksen, Vestergaard, Christian Nørgaard, Andersen, Rasmus Kristensen, Morten Hjulmand, Jesper Lindstrøm, Gustav Isaksen, Højlund, Patrick Dorgu

Subs: Victor Nelsson, Olsen, Morten Frendrup, Jonas Wind, Jørgensen, Mads Hermansen, Victor Kristiansen, Mika Biereth, Lucas Høgsberg, Conrad Harder, Victor Froholdt