Cristiano Ronaldo strikes late for Portugal to break Scotland hearts

Cristiano Ronaldo, with a confident stomp toward the ecstatic crowd, followed by his signature impish grin and celebratory pout, marked his 901st career goal in the 88th minute. Sliding the ball into the net, he shattered Scotland’s hopes of salvaging a brave point. Until that moment, Steve Clarke’s men seemed poised to restore some goodwill with the Tartan Army after their early Euro 2024 exit.

Despite the defeat, Clarke remained optimistic. After the match, he praised his team: “Disappointed to lose, especially for the players given all the effort they put in,” he said. “These matches are building blocks, and the ultimate goal remains qualification for a major tournament. Of course, it would be nice not to concede late goals, but this is the level we’re at, having reached the top tier of the Nations League.”

Clarke emphasized the positives, even amid the disappointment. “The lessons here are harsh, but I reminded the players not to be too hard on themselves,” he added.

Scotland had taken the lead early through Scott McTominay and held firm until halftime. However, Portugal fought back, with Bruno Fernandes leveling the score after a soft save from Angus Gunn. Gunn, though, made crucial late saves from João Félix, and the posts twice denied Ronaldo. Clarke avoided blaming individuals but acknowledged, “Gunny had a good game.”

For Clarke’s side, this loss extended their winless streak in competitive internationals to eight games. It was also the anniversary of their last victory, a 3-0 win over Cyprus. Despite some early pressure from two Billy Gilmour corners, Scotland took the lead deservedly when Kenny McLean’s cross found McTominay, who headed past Diogo Costa.

However, Portugal, led by Roberto Martínez, continued to threaten. Fernandes combined with Bernardo Silva to set up Diogo Jota, who misfired, while Rafael Leão repeatedly caused havoc down the left, forcing Gunn into an impressive save.

Portugal’s wave of attacks, particularly from Leão, kept Scotland on the back foot. The winger’s cutbacks and crosses created several near-misses, and Antonio Silva missed a golden chance after another Leão surge.

Scotland managed a fleeting counterattack, but John McGinn’s delivery was overhit. Gunn, though, remained under siege, notably denying Jota’s header.

Ronaldo, having started on the bench, entered the fray with Rúben Neves as Portugal ramped up the pressure. Despite missing some early opportunities, Ronaldo found the back of the net with his decisive strike from Nuno Mendes’ cross, adding to Clarke’s concerns.

As the match drew to a close, Scotland appealed for penalties following challenges on Billy Gilmour and Ryan Christie, but referee Maurizio Mariani correctly waved them away. With Ronaldo’s late winner, Scotland’s resilience faltered, leaving Clarke with more questions than answers.