Portugal 1-4 Denmark: Hosts thrashed in first game since Ronaldo retirement
UEFA Nations League A · Estadio Municipal de Braga
Portugal suffered a humbling start to life after Cristiano Ronaldo as Rasmus Hojlund scored twice in Denmark’s emphatic 4-1 Nations League victory in Braga.
Bernardo Silva 90+3′
Hojbjerg 43′ (pen)
Hojlund 49′, before the hour
Andersen 75′
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Hojlund’s second-half double put the visitors firmly in control. Joachim Andersen added a brilliant header, leaving Bernardo Silva’s stoppage-time reply as scant consolation for Jorge Jesus’ side.
Denmark had threatened from the outset, with Hojlund, Hojbjerg and Mohamed Daramy all squandering opportunities. Their breakthrough arrived two minutes before half-time when Ruben Dias blocked Hojlund’s header with his hands, allowing Hojbjerg to convert from 12 yards.
Four minutes after the restart, Hojlund volleyed past a helpless Diogo Costa following a scooped pass from Mikkel Damsgaard. Before the hour, he struck again, showing brilliant skill to dribble past Renato Veiga and pick out the bottom-right corner.
Andersen made it four in the 75th minute, powering a header into the top corner from substitute Mathias Jensen’s pinpoint cross.
Portugal eventually found a goal in the 93rd minute. Mads Hermansen kept out Joao Neves’ initial effort, but Silva converted the rebound from close range with the last kick of the game.
Nightmare start for Jesus’ new era
Jesus had hoped a victory would settle doubts surrounding the national team following Ronaldo’s retirement from international football. Instead, Portugal’s attack stuttered in a heavy defeat.
Portugal xG
1.26
From 15 shots
Denmark xG
2.33
Hojlund contributed 0.64
Silva’s late goal accounted for 0.39 of Portugal’s expected goals total, while Goncalo Ramos failed to record a single shot. Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Bruno Fernandes managed just one attempt each.
Substitutes Joao Palhinha, with two shots, and Trincao, with three, were the only Portugal players to register multiple attempts.
Damsgaard and Gustav Isaksen created three chances apiece, while Daramy won 11 of his 13 duels in an outstanding collective display that brought Denmark a major step closer to the quarter-finals.
Denmark need just a draw against Norway in their final group match on Tuesday to reach the last eight of the Nations League.
