Cristiano Ronaldo netted a stunning overhead kick goal for Portugal in the Nations League on Friday. (AP)
Cristiano Ronaldo netted a stunning overhead kick goal as he powered Portugal to a massive 5-1 win over visiting Poland to seal a Nations League quarter-final spot on Friday.
After a goal-less first half, Rafael Leao broke the deadlock just before the hour with a header before Ronaldo doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute with a confident strike down the middle of the goal. While Bruno Fernandes smashed in the third, Ronaldo set up a decisive pass for Neto to score within the inside post.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo then capped off a fruitful outing, scoring his 135th international goal, the 910th of his career, with a sublime finish. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made the most of a dipping cross from Vitinha before beating goalkeeper Marcin Bulka with a close-range overhead kick.
Ronaldo doing Ronaldo things 🚲🤤#UNLGOTR | @AlipayPlus | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/qvR0VLXekz
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) November 15, 2024
Portugal, who snapped Poland’s two-year unbeaten home run when they won the reverse fixture in Warsaw 3-1 last month, had trouble taming the visitors in the first half.
“The first half was very bad for what we wanted to do, we lost focus and got frustrated. But the second half was the best I’ve seen,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.
“We’ve changed the mentality and increased the intensity and mutual support. We didn’t let Poland play.”
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Poland 2024 (H)pic.twitter.com/jaVWeRZdDA
— Huz (@huzcw7l) November 15, 2024
Unbeaten Portugal top the group with 13 points, six ahead of Croatia, who lost 1-0 away to a Scotland side who are still bottom but now level on four points with third-placed Poland.
Poland were without their all-time top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who is sidelined with a back injury, but were quick to create danger and had three attempts on target before the break compared to none by the hosts. The 2019 winners Portugal, who dropped their first points last time out when they were held to a goalless draw in Scotland on October 15, secured a fourth successive top-two finish in the competition.
– With Reuters inputs
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