Portugal secured their place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals with a dramatic 5-2 extra-time victory over Denmark, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to win 5-3 on aggregate. The pulsating encounter at the Estádio José Alvalade saw Cristiano Ronaldo recover from an early penalty miss to play a key role in the comeback, while Francisco Trincão’s late heroics sealed Portugal’s place in the final four.
Early Setback and Denmark’s Resilience
The match got off to a dramatic start when Portugal were awarded a penalty just six minutes in. However, Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel stood firm, reading Ronaldo’s trademark stuttered run-up to comfortably save the spot-kick. Despite the miss, Portugal continued to press, and their persistence paid off in the 38th minute when Joachim Andersen’s attempted clearance looped into his own net, bringing the tie level on aggregate.
Denmark, however, were not deterred. Just 11 minutes into the second half, Rasmus Kristensen found space at a corner and guided a composed header past Diogo Costa, putting the Danes back in the lead overall.
Ronaldo’s Redemption and Trincão’s Moment of Magic
With 18 minutes left, Ronaldo atoned for his earlier miss, reacting quickest to a rebound and firing home to make it 2-1 on the night. Yet, just four minutes later, Christian Eriksen capitalized on defensive confusion to tap into an open goal, silencing the home crowd and once again giving Denmark the advantage.
Enter Francisco Trincão. The Sporting CP winger, playing on familiar turf, struck a brilliant left-footed effort late in the match to force extra time. Shortly after the restart, Trincão doubled his tally, threading the ball through a crowded penalty area to give Portugal the lead for the first time in the tie.
Portugal Seal the Deal
Denmark pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but Portugal’s attacking intensity proved too much. Trincão was again instrumental in the decisive moment, setting up Gonçalo Ramos for the final goal of the night, securing a 5-2 victory and a semi-final showdown against hosts Germany in June.
Portugal Eye Nations League Glory Once Again
With this win, Portugal keep their hopes alive of becoming the first team to win the Nations League twice, having lifted the inaugural trophy in 2019. Meanwhile, Denmark exit the tournament with pride, having put up a valiant fight in a thrilling contest that could have gone either way.
Portugal will now turn their focus to the semi-finals, where they will face a formidable German side in what promises to be another exhilarating clash.
