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Nations League

Ronaldo scores as Portugal win in Poland

Monday, 14 October 2024


BARCELONA, Spain, Oct 13 (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo scored his record-extending 133rd international goal to keep Portugal perfect in the Nations League with a 3-1 win over Poland on Saturday, and Spain struck late to edge Denmark 1-0.
The 39-year-old superstar was there to put in the rebound after Rafael Leão's shot hit the post in the 37th minute. That made it 2-0 following Bernardo Silva's opener in Warsaw in the 26th.
After failing to find the net in his five appearances at this summer's European Championship - with Portugal exiting in the quarterfinals - Ronaldo has scored in three straight Nations League matches, including in wins over Croatia - his 900th career goal - and Scotland last month.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez replaced Ronaldo with Diogo Jota with just under half an hour to play.
Midfielder Piotr Zielinski halved the deficit in the 78th for the hosts, only for Southampton defender Jan Bednarek to score an own-goal with two minutes left.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski started alongside Karol Swiderski but the Polish attacking pair couldn't find their way past the Portuguese defense.
"We worked very hard the last few days, preparing various solutions for this game, and we were able to show it on the pitch. I am really satisfied because we controlled this game," Martínez said. "Also, I am satisfied how Renato Veiga and Rúben Dias performed against one of the best in the world (in Lewandowski)."
Portugal leads Group A1 with nine points from three games. Second-place Croatia has six points after it came back to beat Scotland 2-1 in Zagreb with the visitors having an equalizer deep into second-half stoppage time ruled out by VAR. Poland has three points, and Scotland zero.