Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance led Portugal to a resounding 5-1 victory over Poland, securing a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals on Friday. The win placed Portugal alongside European heavyweights like France, Germany, and Italy in the last eight, while Poland’s hopes ended in Group A1.
After a goalless first half, Rafael Leao opened the scoring for Portugal in the 59th minute, heading in a Nuno Mendes cross. Ronaldo doubled the lead with a penalty after a handball by Jakub Kiwior and later assisted Pedro Neto for Portugal’s fourth.
Also Read: Ronaldo Fan Completes 13,000 km Journey to Meet His Idol
Bruno Fernandes added to the tally with a composed finish, while Ronaldo capped off the night with a stunning overhead kick, bringing his total to two goals in the match. Dominik Marczuk scored a late consolation goal for Poland, who missed the presence of Robert Lewandowski due to injury.
Portugal’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, made key saves to keep Poland at bay before the second-half surge. The win solidifies Portugal’s position as a favorite in the tournament.