Nations League: Portugal edge Denmark 4-2 despite Ronaldo’s absence

Portugal put the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to one side as they edged Denmark 4-2 in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday.

Joao Felix made the win safe late in the second half after the hosts had twice fought back to level.

With the pre-match build-up dominated by five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo’s sudden departure from the team’s training camp on Wednesday, coach Jorge Jesus said before kick-off that he just wanted his side “to focus on the match.”

His team showed no signs of being distracted by the furore caused by the 41-year-old’s walk-out after Jesus announced Ronaldo would not start the match against Denmark.

Portugal’s record goalscorer had already spent all of Sunday’s 2-1 Nations League win in Norway on the bench, having captained the side in the 1-0 home victory over Wales last Thursday.

“Following the national team coach’s press conference, and after having a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation president, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.

“In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated.”

Jesus himself said Thursday, “After (the match), we’ll definitely have time to talk about” the situation.

On the pitch, Joao Cancelo opened the scoring for Portugal inside 13 minutes, before Mikkel Damsgaard curled in a leveller 10 minutes later.

Goncalo Ramos repaid Jesus’s faith in starting him again up front by restoring his country’s lead two minutes later with a cute near-post finish.

Rasmus Hojlund equalised for Denmark early in the second period, but Paris Saint-Germain lynchpin Vitinha nodded the visitors back in front in the 57th minute.

Substitute Felix then tucked home at the end of a swift counter-attack with three minutes remaining to give new boss Jesus a third win from his first three matches.

AFP