Cristiano Ronaldo’s late strike sealed Portugal’s 2-1 win over Scotland because the 901st aim of the striker’s extraordinary profession accomplished a stirring fightback in Sunday’s Nations League conflict.
Ronaldo had reached 900 profession targets along with his 131st worldwide strike in Thursday’s victory over Croatia.
The 39-year-old confirmed no indicators of being sated by that unbelievable milestone as he got here off the bench to raise Portugal to their second successive win in Nations League Group A1.
The Estadio da Luz in Lisbon rose in unison to chant the relentless Al-Nassr ahead’s identify after he struck with two minutes to play.
On his thirtieth birthday, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal’s second half equaliser after his former Outdated Trafford team-mate Scott McTominay gave Scotland a shock early lead.
For Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, victory over Scotland may imply some awkward silences at his subsequent household gathering.
Martinez met his spouse Beth whereas enjoying for Scottish membership Motherwell in 2001 and joked earlier than the match he can be delighted to upset his father-in-law by beating Scotland.
He did precisely that, leaving Scotland nonetheless ready for his or her first win over Portugal.
Overwhelmed 3-2 by Poland at Hampden Park on Thursday, Scotland have received simply as soon as in 14 matches, a barren sequence that included their lacklustre failure to make it out of the group stage at Euro 2024.
Steve Clarke’s males have misplaced six of their 9 matches in 2024, with their solely victory coming in a pleasant towards Gibraltar in June.
“If you carry high quality gamers from the bench like Roberto can do you at all times know there is a threat,” Clarke stated.
“I am actually upset for my gamers as a result of I believe they deserved to get one thing from the sport.
“However with the quantity of balls that go into the field, you realize one in all them can go behind the online and that is what occurred to us.”
Ronaldo late present
Scotland took a shock lead within the seventh minute when Kenny McLean’s excellent cross picked out McTominay, who made a perfectly-timed run to plant his stooping header previous Diogo Costa from six yards.
McTominay, who lately moved from United to Napoli, has 10 targets in his final 12 aggressive appearances for Scotland.
Rafael Leao threatened a direct equaliser with a driving run however his shot rippled into the side-netting.
Leao went even nearer as he lower in from the left flank for a fierce drive that Angus Gunn pushed away at full stretch.
Antonio Silva wasted an opportunity created by Leao as he headed over from the AC Milan ahead’s dinked cross.
Because the Portugal strain mounted, Gunn made a high quality save after Diogo Jota linked with Fernandes’s incisive move.
It was no shock to see Ronaldo despatched on for the second half and Portugal have been instantly improved by his presence.
Taking intention from long-range within the 53rd minute, Fernandes’s 25-yard blast ought to have been routine for Gunn however his weak tried save allowed the ball to squirm into the online.
Ronaldo’s audacious backheel gave Joao Felix a sight of aim, just for Gunn to make amends for his earlier error with a superb cease.
Gunn saved once more from Felix’s diving header earlier than Ronaldo turned the rebound towards the submit.
Within the subsequent assault, Ronaldo’s glancing header hit the submit and was clawed off the road by Gunn earlier than Felix may convert.
Portugal’s late surge lastly produced the winner within the 88th minute.
Nuno Mendes whipped a cross into the six-yard field, the place Ronaldo was lurking to ship the knockout blow with a sometimes predatory tap-in.
