Cristiano Ronaldo scores brace as Portugal hammers Poland to progress in Nations League

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty and an overhead kick as Portugal beat Poland 5-1 to ensure a spot within the Nations League quarterfinals on Friday.

Scotland obtained its first win in 9 video games to maintain alive its hopes of staying within the event’s high tier.

Spain, which had already secured first place in Group A4, beat Denmark 2-1 in Copenhagen, and in the identical group Serbia grabbed a late equalizer in Switzerland to sentence the Swiss to relegation into the second tier.

France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal are all assured one of many eight quarterfinal spots. The video games will likely be held from March 20-23.

The eight groups are additionally assured a spot in Pot 1 for the qualifying draw for the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo sparkles

In Porto, Ronaldo turned in a man-of-the-match efficiency in a blistering second half.

Portugal took its time to beat a hapless Poland however three targets within the final 10 minutes put the sheen on a commanding victory.

Rafael Leão broke the impasse with a superb header 14 minutes into the second half after which Ronaldo obtained his 134th worldwide purpose from the penalty spot 13 minutes later.

Bruno Fernandes scored a shocking third from virtually 30 meters out and three minutes later Ronaldo’s go gave Pedro Neto the house to lash residence a fourth from a good angle.

Ronaldo made it 5 — and 135 — with a deft overhead kick three minutes from time.

Though Dominik Marczuk obtained a late comfort for the Poles, the consequence ended its hopes of creating the quarterfinals.

With Croatia happening in Glasgow, Roberto Martinez’s males are assured high spot in Group A1.

Scotland safe uncommon win

Scotland obtained its first win in 9 video games with a late John McGinn purpose giving the house facet the slimmest of wins over a 10-man Croatia in Group A1.

Petar Sucic was harshly despatched off for a second yellow card offense two minutes earlier than halftime however Scotland struggled to capitalize.

The 19-year-old Ben Doak shone for the house facet through the second 45 minutes however it wasn’t till 4 minutes from time that substitute McGinn broke the impasse to the delight of the Hampden Park crowd.

The consequence left Scotland with two factors and Poland with 4. The groups meet in Warsaw on Monday with Scotland needing a win to keep away from relegation to the second tier.

Spain beats Denmark

Denmark has not overwhelmed Spain since 1993 and it obtained off to the worst doable begin when Mikel Oyarzabal took benefit of poor defending to offer the customer the lead after quarter-hour.

The European champion was on high all through, with Oyarzabal and Ayoze Pérez combining nicely up entrance. Pérez hit the bar early on however obtained the purpose his arduous work deserved when he took a neat go from Olmo and completed clinically with 58 minutes gone.

A stunning defensive lapse allowed Gustav Isaksen to nip in and rating a late comfort for the Danes.

The consequence, mixed with the attract Switzerland, nonetheless leaves Denmark in pole place to seize one of many high two locations in Group A4.

The Danes are in second place with seven factors, two forward of Serbia. The edges meet in Leskovac on Monday. Final-placed Switzerland will drop to League B.

Serbia equalizes late

In Zurich, Zeki Amdouni put Switzerland forward after 79 minutes and seemed to be heading in the right direction for its first win within the event.

However with three minutes left, Serbia broke upfield and Aleksa Terzić supplied the good of finishes to degree the scores.

Gregor Kobel saved a penalty from Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrović early within the second half.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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