Portugal secured their place in the UEFA Nations League semifinals with a dramatic 5-2 victory over Denmark after extra time in the second leg of their quarterfinal tie at the Jose Alvalade Stadium on Sunday night. The 5-3 aggregate triumph, fueled by a resilient comeback and standout performances from Francisco Trincao and Cristiano Ronaldo, sets up a tantalizing semifinal clash with Germany in June.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Copenhagen, where Rasmus Hojlund’s late strike had given Denmark the edge, Portugal faced an uphill battle. The night began with a jolt of drama when Ronaldo, captaining the side on his 219th international appearance, stepped up for a penalty in the third minute after being fouled by Denmark’s Patrick Dorgu. However, Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel read the veteran striker’s intentions perfectly, diving to his left to deny what would have been an early lifeline for the hosts.
Despite the miss, Portugal leveled the aggregate score in the 38th minute through an unexpected source. A corner kick won by Ronaldo’s persistence was inadvertently headed into his own net by Denmark’s Joachim Andersen, sparking wild celebrations and shifting the momentum. Ronaldo thought he had doubled the lead just before halftime with a close-range header, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call on Rafael Leao in the buildup.
Denmark, buoyed by their first-leg advantage, came out firing in the second half. Rasmus Kristensen restored their aggregate lead in the 56th minute, rising unmarked to head in a Christian Eriksen corner. The Danish resilience seemed to rattle Portugal, but Ronaldo, ever the talisman, responded in the 71st minute. Latching onto a precise pass, he slotted home from a tight angle to make it 2-1 on the night and level the tie at 2-2 overall.
The pendulum swung again when Eriksen, Denmark’s midfield maestro, tapped in from close range in the 76th minute after a defensive lapse from Ruben Dias, putting Denmark 3-2 ahead on aggregate. With time ticking down, Portugal’s hopes appeared to fade—until substitute Francisco Trincao emerged as the hero. Introduced in the 81st minute, the Sporting winger crashed home an equalizer in the 86th minute, sending the match into extra time with the aggregate score locked at 3-3.
Trincao’s impact didn’t end there. In the first period of extra time, he struck again, capitalizing on a tiring Danish defense to put Portugal ahead for the first time in the tie. As Denmark pushed for a response, Diogo Jota extended the lead in the 108th minute with a clinical finish from a Goncalo Ramos assist. Ramos himself sealed the victory in the dying moments, slotting in a cutback from Jota to cap a 5-2 rout on the night and a 5-3 triumph over the two legs.
“We knew it would be tough after the first leg, but this team showed incredible heart,” said Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez. “Cristiano’s leadership and Francisco’s brilliance turned the tide. We’re ready for the next challenge.”
For Denmark, the defeat marked the end of a spirited campaign. Coach Brian Riemer praised his side’s effort, saying, “We gave everything, but Portugal’s quality in those key moments was the difference. I’m proud of how we fought.”
Ronaldo, despite his early penalty miss, finished with a goal and a pivotal role in the opener, bringing his career tally to 929 goals. His substitution before extra time didn’t dim his influence, as he rallied the crowd from the sidelines. Trincao, named man of the match, credited the team’s belief: “We never stopped pushing. This is what Portugal is about.”