Denmark 2-4 Portugal: Jesus’ men put Ronaldo drama to one side with superb win

UEFA Nations League,
League A – 3

Parking stadium

Mikola Balakin

Mikkel Damsgaard 23′
Rasmus Hojlund 53′

João Cancelo 13′
Gonçalo Ramos 25′
Vitinha 67′
Joao Felix 87′

Portugal they were unaffected by the drama surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo as he produced an excellent attacking performance to maintain his 100 per cent start to the match. UEFA Nations League with a 4-2 away win Denmark.

Ronaldo sensationally left the squad this week after a falling out with coach Jorge Jesús, which looks set to end his storied international career.

The drama surrounding Portugal’s record goalscoring understandably overshadowed the build-up to the game with Denmark at Parken, but it had no impact on their performance, which served as another illustration of how well they can play without him.

Having beaten Norway 2-1 with Ronaldo on the bench, Portugal took the lead in the 13th minute through Joao Cancelo.

Mikkel Damsgaard sublimely equalized 10 minutes later, only for Goncalo Ramos to give Portugal the lead again soon after.

Rasmus Hojlund drew Denmark level for the second time eight minutes into the second half, but Vitinha’s opener for Portugal restored a lead which was doubled late on by Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr team-mate Joao Felix.

The defending Nations League champions now have a six-point lead at the top of Group 4 in League A.

Portugal purrs without Ronaldo

Ramos came close to breaking the deadlock when his quick shot hit the post, but instead provided the assist moments later, his return ball being met by Barcelona full-back Cancelo, whose finish over Mads Hermansen belied his defensive position.

Rafael Leao was denied by Hermansen and then saw a close-range effort go wide.

Denmark made sure their blunder was punished as Damsgaard bent into the far corner to restore parity which proved short-lived.

Indeed, a superb one-two with Bruno Fernandes put Ramos through on goal, and the AC Milan striker made no mistake with a calm, level finish.

Only a reflex save from Hermansen with his legs prevented Ramos from making it 3-1 just before the break after good work from Leao.

But Denmark leveled the game again in superb fashion with a move that started well inside their own half.

Damsgaard found Hojlund with a superb pass, and the Napoli striker kept his nerve to casually chip the ball over Diogo Costa.

Ramos then fired home from a clever pass from Fernandes, before Ruben Neves was denied at the near post by Hermansen.

However, Fernandes found reward for another superb ball into the box as Vitinha timed his run perfectly, curling the delivery into the bottom corner to put his country clear and put Portugal ahead for a third time.

The finishing touch was applied in the 87th minute, Felix scoring for his third successive game for his country with a deflected shot from Diogo Dalot’s layoff after a wonderfully crafted Portugal break.

UEFA Nations League table

Next matches of Denmark and Portugal