At Porto’s Estádio do Dragão, where Erling Haaland received applause as he left injured, Portugal’s Ligue 1 contingent helped turn a difficult night into a 2-1 win over Norway and a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.
The Ligue 1 news
Portugal made it four victories from four in the competition, continuing their flawless group campaign despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Jorge Jesus’s side had more of the ball and greater control for long spells, but had to recover after Norway struck first on Sunday.
Kristoffer Ajer, the Norway centre-back, stunned the home side in the 36th minute. From near the edge of the penalty area, he sent a rising effort beyond the Portuguese goalkeeper to put the visitors ahead.
The response arrived almost immediately. Nuno Mendes, the Paris Saint-Germain left-back, delivered a throw-in to João Cancelo, who produced a fine outside-of-the-right-foot finish two minutes after Ajer’s goal.
The second half initially offered fewer openings, with Portugal unable to find a decisive breakthrough. The contest changed when Haaland, having picked up a problem, signalled for a substitution in the 67th minute.
Vitinha then provided the incision Portugal needed. The PSG midfielder released João Félix, whose low pass created the chance for Gonçalo Ramos. Ramos did not connect cleanly with his close-range attempt, but the ball still crossed the line in the 79th minute.
The closing stages became increasingly tense. A member of the Norway bench was sent off, before Francisco Conceição received two yellow cards in quick succession. His second booking came after an ironic applause towards the referee in the 86th minute.
Reduced to 10 players, Portugal nevertheless saw out the result without allowing Norway a late route back into the match.
The next appointment in France
The Nations League quarter-finals will be played over two legs at the end of March. Portugal have already secured qualification with two group matches still establishing the wider picture of the competition.
