Portugal produced a thrilling comeback to beat Denmark 5-2 after extra time on Sunday night, winning 5-3 on aggregate and booking their spot in the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Germany.
Ronaldo Misses Early Penalty but Inspires Comeback
Portugal’s night started with drama. In the third minute, Denmark’s Patrick Dorgu fouled Cristiano Ronaldo inside the box, giving Portugal a perfect early chance. But Denmark’s goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, guessed correctly and saved Ronaldo’s penalty.
Ronaldo nearly made up for it in the 17th minute with a header, but Schmeichel denied him again with another brilliant stop.
Own Goal Sparks Portuguese Hope
Portugal finally took the lead in the 38th minute when Denmark defender Joachim Andersen accidentally headed the ball into his own net from a corner. However, Denmark responded well.
Rasmus Kristensen equalized with a header in the 56th minute, and Christian Eriksen later put Denmark ahead on aggregate in the 76th minute.
Trincão’s Magic Seals the Win
Just when it looked like Denmark would go through, Portugal substitute Francisco Trincão came on to turn the game around. He scored in the 86th minute to make it 3-3 on aggregate and force extra time.
Then, in the 91st minute, Trincão chipped the ball beautifully over Schmeichel to give Portugal the lead in extra time. Denmark tried to fight back but couldn’t keep up. Finally, Gonçalo Ramos added a fifth goal for Portugal to end Denmark’s hopes.
Portugal will now face Germany in the semi-final after Germany’s 5-4 win over Italy.
Match Stats
| Category | Portugal | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 58.3% | 41.7% |
| Shots on Goal | 11 | 4 |
| Total Attempts | 18 | 14 |
| Fouls | 21 | 19 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 4 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corner Kicks | 11 | 8 |
| Saves | 2 | 7 |
Key Moments Recap
✅ Ronaldo misses early penalty (3’)
✅ Own goal by Andersen gives Portugal lead (38’)
✅ Denmark equalizes through Kristensen (56’)
✅ Eriksen puts Denmark ahead on aggregate (76’)
✅ Trincão scores twice (86’, 91’) to turn the match around
✅ Gonçalo Ramos scores final goal (ET)
Portugal showed great fight, with substitutes stepping up when it mattered the most. Now, they have Germany waiting in the semi-final of UEFA Nations League.
Can Portugal continue their dream run? Stay tuned for more action!
