Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Poland1 - 3Portugal

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 October 2024, 20:51
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 133rd international goal on Saturday evening, with the 39-year-old helping Portugal record a 3-1 victory over Poland in their UEFA Nations League contest.

The result has left Roberto Martinez's side at the top of Group 1 of League A, boasting nine points from their opening three matches, while Poland sit down in third spot, three points behind second-placed Croatia.

The breakthrough came in the 26th minute of the contest, and it was a wonderful goal from Portugal, with Bruno Fernandes expertly heading down towards Bernardo Silva inside the penalty box, and the Manchester City attacker volleyed into the bottom corner.

Portugal had their second of the match in the 37th minute; the goal was all about Rafael Leao, with the forward driving through a number of Polish challengers before striking against the base of the post, and Ronaldo was on hand to convert from close range.

Poland had seven attempts in the opening half of action, but they were undone by a ruthless Portugal outfit, who are now in an incredibly strong position at the top of the section.

The home team did have one back in the 78th minute of the contest, with Piotr Zielinski firing into the back of the net from inside the box after the ball broke kindly for him in a dangerous area.

However, Portugal scored a third in the 88th minute when Jan Bednarek turned a dangerous cross from Nuno Mendes into the back of his own net from close range, with Martinez's side securing a vital win.

POLAND VS. PORTUGAL HIGHLIGHTS

26th min: Poland 0-1 Portugal (Bernardo Silva)

Portugal make the breakthrough in the 26th minute of the contest through Bernardo Silva, with the attacker firing a volley into the bottom corner of the net after being found by a clever Fernandes header.

37th min: Poland 0-2 Portugal (Cristiano Ronaldo)

Portugal double their advantage in the Nations League fixture, and Ronaldo is on the scoresheet; Leao drives through the heart of Poland before smashing one against the post, and Ronaldo is on hand to convert from close range.

78th min: Poland 1-2 Portugal (Piotr Zielinski)

Poland have one back in the 78th minute of the match, as Zielinski fires into the back of the net after the ball had broken kindly for him inside the Portugal penalty box. The hosts get themselves back in the match with more than 10 minutes to play.

88th min: Poland 1-3 Portugal (Jan Bednarek own goal)

Portugal make sure of the points in the 88th minute of the match, as Bednarek turns a cross from Mendes into the back of his own net.

MAN OF THE MATCH - CRISTIANO RONALDO

Ronaldo hit the crossbar before getting his name on the scoresheet in the 37th minute, and he has now scored 11 times for club and country during the 2024-25 campaign, with the legendary forward still a goal machine.

There has been criticism of his all-round contribution for the national side, but he was brilliant on Saturday, boasting a pass success rate of 88% and having three shots in total, with Ronaldo the star of the show in the Nations League affair.

POLAND VS. PORTUGAL MATCH STATS

Possession: Poland 37%-63% Portugal

Shots: Poland 12-19 Portugal

Shots on target: Poland 4-7 Portugal

Corners: Poland 7-4 Portugal

Fouls: Poland 12-16 Portugal

BEST STAT

WHAT NEXT?

Portugal will be bidding to make it four straight wins in the section when they head to Scotland on Tuesday night, before tackling Poland and Croatia in their final two matches of the group stage in November.

Poland, meanwhile, will be aiming to bounce back from successive defeats when they host Croatia on Tuesday, before taking on Portugal again and Scotland in their November matches.

Top News

22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has been seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after sustaining a suspected hamstring problem in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have written a new page of English football history thanks to their 5-1 destruction of London rivals Crystal Palace in Saturday's Premier League derby. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 17 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will be wrapped up with a clash between two sides from the Marmara region, as Istanbul Basaksehir welcome Kasimpasa to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday evening. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Leicester loan star Facundo Buonanotte wants to see a Tottenham forward join him so they can rekindle their partnership. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's rivals will hate it but they can definitely claim London is red after their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus continued his resurgence with two goals as the Gunners demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal fans' worst fears have been realised with Bukayo Saka substituted early with a suspected hamstring injury. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have suffered a worrying injury blow over Bukayo Saka, who appeared to pick up a hamstring problem in Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona and Arsenal are reportedly both interested in signing Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume, with the France Under-21s international potentially leaving Estadio Ramon next summer.