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Cristiano Ronaldo scored two objectives – together with a shocking overhead kick – as Portugal crushed Poland 5-1 to clinch high spot in Nations League Group A1, with all six objectives coming within the second half.
Ronaldo was joined on the scoresheet by Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto as Portugal improved massively following a primary half during which they didn’t handle a single shot on course.
Having simply shaded a quiet opening interval, Poland discovered themselves behind when Leao stooped to nod Portugal forward simply earlier than the hour mark, mere moments after Diogo Costa had denied Jakub Kaminski on the different finish.
A Jakub Kiwior handball enabled Ronaldo to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot after 72 minutes, then Fernandes smashed a shot off the crossbar and in for 3-0 eight minutes later.
Chelsea winger Neto swiftly added a fourth by powering dwelling on his weaker proper foot, however the choose of Portugal’s objectives got here by way of Ronaldo with three minutes of the 90 remaining.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner watched a dinked cross from the spectacular Vitinha all the best way earlier than beating Marcin Bulka with an acrobatic overhead kick from shut vary.
Substitute Dominik Marczuk pulled one again for Poland on the dying, however the heavy defeat – coupled with Scotland’s 1-0 win over Croatia – places them in extreme hazard of relegation.
Ought to Michal Probierz’s workforce lose to the Tartan Military in Warsaw on Monday, they’ll drop to the second tier for the following version of the Nations League in 2026-27. Portugal, in the meantime, are assured of a spot in March’s quarter-finals.
Knowledge Debrief: Ronaldo stays the principle man
After seeing Ronaldo go airborne to transform Vitinha’s cross and put the icing on the Portugal cake, it was simple to neglect that the legendary ahead will enter his forties in simply over two months.
He was well-marshalled by Poland within the first half, when Portugal solely recorded 9 touches within the guests’ space.
Nonetheless, he ended the encounter with two objectives from a game-high 2.06 xG, generated from 5 photographs, additionally probably the most of any participant on the pitch. He now has 135 senior worldwide objectives, 23 greater than his nice rival Lionel Messi.
