Cristiano Ronaldo is immortal. With his national team, the Portuguese star, 39, scored a double this Friday evening in Porto, during his team’s victory against Poland (5-1). Portugal thus qualified for the quarter-finals of the League of Nations. And Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 135th international goal with a superb return at the end of the match.
With the defeat of Croatia in Scotland (1-0), the Seleçao (13 points) is assured of finishing in first place in group 1 of League A, even before concluding this group stage on Monday during its trip to Croatia (2nd with 7 points).
Friday evening at the Dragon stadium in Porto, the Seleçao initially sorely lacked offensive inspiration and defensive mastery throughout the first period, but the team of Spanish coach Roberto Martinez returned from the locker room with a PSG player in the place of another, Vitinha replacing Joao Neves, and a much more impactful dynamic.
Portugal took the advantage thanks to Rafael Leao, who concluded with his head a rapid attack that he himself launched with the help of Nuno Mendes, author of a nice decisive pass (59th, 1-0 ). This is where CR7 came out of its torpor. Until then transparent, even messy, Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead from the penalty spot (72nd, 2-0) by sanctioning a handball in the area by Polish defender Jakub Kiwior, who wanted to counter a strike from Diogo Dalot.
Bruno Fernandes then hit the nail on the head with a superb right shot into the top corner (80th, 3-0) and Pedro Neto aggravated the score with a right shot passed between goalkeeper Marcin Bulka and his inside post (83rd, 4-0). The evening will, however, remain marked by this acrobatic return from Ronaldo after a cross from Vitinha (87th, 5-0), followed by a goal for the honor of Poland from Dominik Marczuk (88th, 5-1).
