Germany 1-2 Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo completes semi-final turnaround for Seleção 😤
Match report 👇

Germany 1-2 Portugal highlights and report: Ronaldo completes semi-final turnaround for Seleção

Francisco Conceição and Cristiano Ronaldo were on target to end Germany’s dreams of a first Nations League crown.

Portugal came from behind with second-half goals from Francisco Conceição and Cristiano Ronaldo to sink hosts Germany in the first UEFA Nations League semi-final at the Munich Football Arena.

Match in brief: Seleção come on strong to progress

Both goalkeepers were called into action early on as Diogo Costa denied Leon Goretzka and Marc-André ter Stegen saved Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort inside seven minutes but Germany, making their first appearance at the Nations League Finals, then gained the upper hand.

Diogo Costa was all that separated them from a first-half lead as he made instinctive saves from both debutant Nick Woltemade and Goretzka, then a more routine stop from Florian Wirtz as the Germany creator attempted to pick out the top corner.

The Leverkusen forward would have a more decisive say in the 48th minute as he headed in the opener. Wirtz slipped a pass to Joshua Kimmich, making his 100th international appearance, on the edge of the area then darted into the box to guide a delicate header across Diogo Costa from his team-mate’s delicious clipped pass.

But two goals in six scintillating minutes tipped the balance in Portugal’s favour. First substitute Francisco Conceição surged inside from the right touchline before bending a wonderful shot around Ter Stegen from the edge of the area, then Nuno Mendes exchanged passes with Bruno Fernandes before sliding a low ball across for Cristiano Ronaldo to score his 137th international goal.

Nuno Mendes, Portugal defender: “We had a very good game, especially defensively. We knew how to hold on in the tough moments, we managed the way they play very well. We knew their players could keep possession, that they could attack the spaces, they have many good players, but we handled that well and then hit them on the counter. We scored two goals, we could have scored more.”

Roberto Martínez, Portugal coach: “We need to enjoy the victory – we won for the first time in a while against Germany. Tactically we were exceptional and our commitment helped. It was a team victory. There are a lot of things you have to do well if you want to play eye to eye with Germany. We could have had more possession – the space was there and we didn’t look for it in the best way. The important thing is to be competitive. We need flexibility to use the individual ability of the players.”