Srinagar: Veteran 40 year old Cristiano Ronaldo turned out as the star savior for Portugal as they beat Germany 2-1 in Munich to earn a place in Sunday’s Nations League final.
The hosts had gone in front early in the second half when Liverpool transfer target Florian Wirtz headed home, but Roberto Martínez’s men hit back with two goals in five minutes. Substitute Francisco Conceição levelled with a fantastic long-range strike, before Ronaldo converted from Nuno Mendes’ cross to seal victory.
There was drama before kick-off, which was delayed by 10 minutes due to a hail storm over the Allianz Arena. Ronaldo also had to deal with a young pitch invader who was grabbed by stewards as he tried to approach the Portugal captain for a selfie.
Portugal were inches away from taking the lead early in the second half as Ronaldo was just unable to connect with Nuno Mendes’ incisive cross, which agonisingly grazed the forward’s studs. Moments later, Wirtz broke the deadlock, heading home a delightful clipped ball over the defence from Joshua Kimmich, who was celebrating his 100th Germany cap.
Martínez made a triple change just before the hour mark, with Juventus winger Conceição replacing Francisco Trinçao on the right side. It was Conceição who changed the game five minutes later, cutting in from the right, driving towards goal and finding the far corner with a 25-yard effort that swerved and dipped.
That seemed like a good omen for Portugal – Francisco’s father, Sérgio, scored a hat-trick the last time they beat Germany, at Euro 2000. So it proved five minutes later as Bruno Fernandes played in Nuno Mendes, whose cross found Ronaldo just onside, six yards out, to slot past Marc-André ter Stegen for his 137th international goal.
Germany came close to an equaliser when substitute Karim Adeyemi struck the near post from a tight angle, but in the latter stages it was Portugal who looked more likely to score as Julian Nagelsmann’s team ran out of ideas.
Conceição, who was named player of the match, sent a powerful strike just wide, while Ter Stegen made a miraculous double save to deny substitute Diogo Jota and then Conceição’s shot on the rebound in the dying moments.
Still, Portugal’s work was done, and the 2019 Nations League winners advance to a final against either 2021 champions France or the current holders, Spain, at the same venue on Sunday night.