Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal to Nations League closing with 2-1 win over Germany

The 40-year-old Ronaldo captained Portugal and scored his 137th worldwide aim 5 minutes after substitute Francisco Conceição equalized with a blistering shot within the 63rd.

Ronaldo turned the oldest participant to ever rating in opposition to Germany whereas ending his “curse” in opposition to the nation. The former Real Madrid star misplaced every of the earlier 5 video games he’d performed in opposition to Germany.

Liverpool goal Florian Wirtz had given the house staff a Forty eighth-minute lead with a wonderfully positioned header inside the appropriate submit, however Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made his adjustments depend as he introduced on Conceição and Champions League winner Vitinha among the many substitutes.

Vitinha excelled as Portugal completed the sport within the ascendancy simply 4 days after he helped Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League closing in opposition to Inter Milan in the identical stadium on Saturday.

Germany wanted goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen at his greatest to forestall the guests from scoring any extra.

PSG wing backs João Neves and Nuno Mendes each began for Portugal, whereas Stuttgart ahead Nick Woltemade began for his Germany debut.

Conceição solely wanted 5 minutes to make a mark with an excellent long-range strike contained in the far submit after he surged previous Robin Gosens like he wasn’t there. Mendes gave Ronaldo a easy end 5 minutes after that.

“It could have been more,” Mendes mentioned.

France performs Spain in Stuttgart on Thursday within the different semifinal.

soccer: /hub/soccer

This article was generated from an automatic information company feed with out modifications to textual content.

Stay up to date with the newest sports activities information, together with newest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, the place Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all of the motion from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, observe your favorite soccer groups and gamers with the newest match outcomes, and get the newest on worldwide hockey tournaments and sequence.

See Less