Portugal Suffer 4-1 Home Hammering by Denmark in First Match Since Ronaldo's Retirement
Rasmus Hojlund scored twice as Denmark overwhelmed a Portugal side playing its first game since Cristiano Ronaldo ended his international career.
By Ricardo Brooks ·
Portugal's first outing without Cristiano Ronaldo ended in humiliation on Saturday, as Denmark swept to a 4-1 Nations League victory in Braga behind a superb double from Rasmus Hojlund.
The result leaves second-placed Denmark on nine points from five fixtures, three behind Portugal, and closes them in on a place in the quarterfinals. Portugal had already secured qualification for the last eight after winning all four of their previous group matches, and a draw against third-placed Norway on Tuesday would be enough to send the Danes through.
Before kickoff, the home side honored Ronaldo, who announced his departure from international football last week. Players and mascots walked out wearing his name and number seven on their jerseys, supporters unfurled a giant banner reading "Thank you, captain," and applause swept around the stadium when the match clock reached seven minutes.
Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003 and went on to set world records for international goals and appearances, scoring 146 times across 234 matches. The high point of his international career was winning Euro 2016, but his tenure ended badly when the 41-year-old fell out with coach Jorge Jesus after being left out of a Nations League fixture in September. That dispute led the Portuguese football federation to hand the five-time Ballon d'Or winner a 30-day suspension, and his retirement followed. On this evidence, Portugal looked like a team missing its former talisman.
Denmark were superior from the opening minute and took a deserved lead shortly before halftime through Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's 43rd-minute penalty. Hojlund then lashed in a brilliant volley four minutes after the restart, and seven minutes later he left the home crowd stunned, skipping past Ruben Dias before crashing a powerful shot home from the edge of the area, a strike the watching Ronaldo faithful would have recognized.
When Joachim Andersen headed in the fourth goal, boos and whistles rang out around the Estadio Municipal. Bernardo Silva's late consolation did little to ease the anger of the home support.
Earlier on Saturday, Norway beat Wales 3-1 in Oslo to stay third in the group. Antonio Nusa opened the scoring just before the hour mark with a fine low strike, Andreas Schjelderup tapped in a perfect low cross from Erling Haaland, and Haaland completed the scoring from the penalty spot two minutes from time.
Wales briefly held out hope when David Brooks's chipped finish cut the deficit in the 79th minute, but Craig Bellamy's side will finish bottom of the group and now face the risk of relegation to League B.
