Portugal’s hopes of advancing in the Nations League took a hit on Thursday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Denmark in the first leg of their quarter-final clash. Despite a heroic performance from goalkeeper Diogo Costa, the visitors were unable to contain the Danish attack, with Rasmus Hojlund’s strike proving the difference in Copenhagen.
Costa was the standout performer for Portugal, producing a string of impressive saves to keep his team in the game. The Porto shot-stopper was called upon early in the match, recovering well after his attempted clearance rebounded back towards goal off Mika Biereth. He then went on to save a penalty from Christian Eriksen, diving away to his right to deny the Manchester United midfielder.
At the other end, Kasper Schmeichel was forced to make a spectacular save to palm Pedro Neto’s effort from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar. The Danish goalkeeper was largely untested for the remainder of the match, with Portugal struggling to create clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Cristiano Ronaldo, in particular, had a disappointing game, failing to make a significant impact on the match. The Portuguese superstar sent one weak header wide and cut an increasingly frustrated figure as the game wore on. His lack of influence on the game was a major concern for Portugal, who relied heavily on Costa’s heroics to keep them in the game.
Denmark, on the other hand, looked increasingly dangerous as the game wore on. They won a penalty when Renato Veiga blocked Eriksen’s goal-bound volley with his hand, but Costa was equal to the task, saving the spot-kick. The home side continued to press, with Costa producing a series of impressive saves to deny Biereth and Eriksen.
Hojlund’s strike proved to be the decisive moment in the match, with the United man finishing off an excellent team move before replicating Ronaldo’s famed ‘SIUUU’ celebration. The goal was a deserved reward for Denmark’s dominance in the second half, and leaves Portugal facing an uphill task in the return leg.
Portugal’s defeat is a major setback for Roberto Martinez’s side, who had been hoping to build momentum in the Nations League. Instead, they will need to regroup and refocus ahead of the return leg, where they will need to overcome a one-goal deficit to advance.
The return leg promises to be an exciting encounter, with Portugal needing to win by at least two goals to advance. Martinez will need to rally his troops and find a way to get Ronaldo and his attacking teammates firing on all cylinders if they are to have any hope of turning the tie around.
In the meantime, Denmark will be celebrating a hard-fought victory, one that puts them in the driver’s seat ahead of the return leg. They will need to be at their best to see off Portugal’s challenge, but for now, they can bask in the glory of a well-deserved win.
Source: Africa Publicity
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