Libson, Sept 9 V7N- Cristiano Ronaldo's late heroics secured Portugal a 2-1 victory over Scotland in a thrilling Nations League showdown on Sunday. The Al-Nassr star’s 901st career goal capped off a stunning comeback, leaving fans at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz roaring his name.
Ronaldo, who reached the 900-goal milestone in Thursday’s win against Croatia, showed no signs of slowing down. Coming off the bench, the 39-year-old delivered the game-winning strike just two minutes from full time, propelling Portugal to their second consecutive win in Nations League Group A1.
Earlier, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes had leveled the score after Scott McTominay’s early header gave Scotland a surprise lead. It was a tense clash for Portugal’s boss Roberto Martinez, who joked about ruffling some family feathers with the victory, given his ties to Scotland through his in-laws. But victory was sweet for Martinez, while Scotland's winless streak against Portugal continues.
Scotland, despite their early lead, saw their luck run out again after a tough year. Head coach Steve Clarke expressed his frustration after yet another loss in 2024, their sixth in nine games.
Ronaldo, though, was the star of the show, igniting Portugal’s attack after being introduced at half-time. His presence immediately lifted the team, and after Fernandes equalized with a 25-yard strike, Ronaldo came close several times before finally burying the winning goal. It was a classic Ronaldo moment — a deadly tap-in from Nuno Mendes' cross, sealing the victory and delivering yet another iconic chapter in his legendary career.
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