Portugal dealt with Scotland late on Sunday. Scott McTominay once again found the net for the Scots. Bruno Fernandes (30) was responsible for the equalizer on his birthday. Substitute Cristiano Ronaldo made the difference just before the end.
The Nations League continued to deliver drama and moments of brilliance over the weekend, with veteran stars taking center stage for their respective nations.
Scott McTominay, who recently made a high-profile move from Manchester United to Napoli, continued his fine international form for Scotland. Within just seven minutes of the match against Portugal, McTominay rose to meet a cross, heading in an early goal to give his team the lead. This comes on the heels of his stellar performance against Poland, where he found the net in a 2-3 defeat. McTominay’s scoring prowess has been nothing short of remarkable, netting ten goals in his last thirteen appearances for Scotland. His recent contributions have been a bright spot for a Scottish team still searching for consistency in the Nations League.
However, Portugal, as they often do, responded with resilience and quality. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had scored his historic 900th career goal earlier in the week, started this match on the bench. At 39, the legendary forward still commands attention, and his introduction right after halftime proved crucial. With Portugal trailing 1-0, the team found an equalizer in the 54th minute. Bruno Fernandes, celebrating his 30th birthday, finished off a well-worked move after a perfect assist from Rafael Leão. The goal brought Portugal back into the match and set the stage for a dramatic conclusion.
As the clock ticked down, Ronaldo, who had been watching from the sidelines for the first half, made his mark in the 88th minute. Latching onto an assist from Nuno Mendes, the Al-Nassr striker calmly slotted the ball home, securing a 2-1 victory for Portugal. Ronaldo’s impact, even at his advanced age, continues to be decisive, and his late winner keeps Portugal in the driver’s seat in Group A.
Meanwhile, in another Group A encounter, Croatia asserted their dominance over Poland. The match was a showcase of experience, with 39-year-old Luka Modric stepping up once again for his country. On his birthday, the Real Madrid midfielder delivered a moment of magic, curling a free kick into the net shortly after halftime. Modric, known for his precision and composure in key moments, gave Croatia the lead and ultimately secured the win. Poland, led by Robert Lewandowski, had their chances to respond but were left frustrated. Lewandowski came closest to leveling the score with a powerful shot that rattled the crossbar, but Croatia held on for a crucial victory.
With these results, the standings in Group A are taking shape. Portugal currently sits atop the group, having won both of their matches. Croatia and Poland trail with three points each, while Scotland, despite McTominay's heroics, remains without a point. As the Nations League progresses, the battle for supremacy in this high-stakes group is heating up, with Portugal looking strong and Croatia and Poland in close pursuit.
