Denmark celebrated a big night at Parken Stadium on Thursday, beating Portugal 1-0 in the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinal. The hero of the night was Rasmus Hojlund, who came off the bench and scored the winning goal in the 78th minute.
The Perfect Story for Hojlund
The 22-year-old Manchester United striker has been struggling for goals this season, but this night was different. After scoring the winner, Højlund performed the iconic “Siu” celebration in front of Cristiano Ronaldo — the very man who made that celebration famous.
“It was fantastic, it was a great day in many ways,” said Højlund. “I played against my idol [Ronaldo], I scored, and was the match-winner. It couldn’t have been written much better.”
Eriksen’s Miss, Costa’s Heroics
Denmark had the chance to lead earlier when Christian Eriksen won a penalty in the 23rd minute. But Portugal’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, made an excellent save, diving to his right to keep the score level. Costa was outstanding throughout the first half, saving shots from both Mika Biereth and Eriksen.
The Decisive Goal
Finally, in the 78th minute, Denmark broke the deadlock. Eriksen picked out Andreas Skov Olsen, who passed the ball to Højlund. He calmly slotted it into the net with his right foot.
Denmark then focused on defense and kept Portugal’s attack, including Ronaldo, quiet for the rest of the match.
Portugal’s Response
Bruno Fernandes admitted after the game that Portugal needed to be stronger. “We lacked aggression and we needed to be more intelligent. We have a tough game ahead at home, but we are confident we can turn it around with our fans.”
The second leg will be played on Sunday in Lisbon, and the winner will face either Italy or Germany in the semifinals.
Match Stats:
| Category | Denmark (DEN) | Portugal (POR) |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 44.1% | 55.9% |
| Shots on Goal | 9 | 2 |
| Shot Attempts | 23 | 8 |
| Fouls | 5 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corner Kicks | 7 | 6 |
| Saves | 2 | 7 |
What’s Next ?
All eyes are now on the second leg in Lisbon. Can Portugal come back, or will Denmark hold strong? Either way, football fans can expect more drama.
