Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to score a late winner, securing a 2-1 victory for Portugal against Scotland in the Nations League. Scotland took an early lead with a header from Scott McTominay in the seventh minute, but Portugal responded in the second half when Bruno Fernandes equalized in the 54th minute. Despite strong saves from Scotland’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Ronaldo hitting the post twice, Ronaldo finally scored in the 88th minute to give Portugal the win.
Scotland’s manager, Steve Clarke, praised his team’s effort and performance, despite the loss. He noted that while Scotland has struggled for points, their main goal is to qualify for a major tournament. Clarke also mentioned that the team is in a period of adjustment, and although the results are disappointing, there are positives to take from their performances.
Meanwhile, Luka Modric, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate, scored a free-kick to help Croatia beat Poland 1-0. Modric, just shy of his 39th birthday, continues to impress as he made his 180th appearance for Croatia, with only Ronaldo having more caps in European football. Croatia now sits second in Group A1, behind Portugal.
