Historic Victory for Portugal: Ronaldo Breaks Curse Against Germany

The football world witnessed a thrilling encounter on Wednesday as Portugal edged out Germany 2-1 in a captivating Nations League match at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The victory marked a significant milestone for Cristiano Ronaldo, who not only scored the winning goal but also broke his unfortunate streak against the Germans. The Portuguese superstar had gone five matches without tasting victory against Germany, his longest winless run against any national side.

A Game of Two Halves

The match got off to a slow start, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The stormy weather conditions didn’t help, causing a 10-minute delay to the kickoff. When the game finally began, it was Portugal who showed more intent, with Ronaldo coming close to scoring the opener in the sixth minute. His shot was expertly saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, his old La Liga nemesis. Germany’s best chance of the first half fell to debutant Nick Woltemade, but his low shot was well saved by Diogo Costa.

Germany Takes the Lead

The second half began with a bang, as Florian Wirtz produced a moment of magic to give Germany the lead. The young midfielder started and finished a clever move, tiptoeing past three defenders before laying off for Joshua Kimmich. The German captain chipped the ball over the Portugal defense, and Wirtz expertly guided a low header into the bottom right corner. The goal sparked a sense of urgency in the Portuguese team, and they began to push for an equalizer.

Conceicao’s Brilliance

The introduction of Francisco Conceicao in the 60th minute proved to be a game-changer for Portugal. The youngster shed Robin Gosens with a clever shimmy near the halfway line and advanced goalwards before unleashing a superb curling shot past the desperate fingers of Ter Stegen. The equalizer was a testament to Conceicao’s skill and determination, and it set the stage for Ronaldo to produce the winner.

Ronaldo’s Redemption

Ronaldo, who had missed two solid chances earlier, made amends with a nerveless tap-in from close range. Nuno Mendes provided the assist, and Ronaldo’s 137th international goal sealed a historic victory for Portugal. The goal not only broke his curse against Germany but also marked a record-extending 137th international goal for the Portuguese superstar.

Germany Left to Ponder

The loss is a setback for Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany, which had lost just one of its previous 17 games. Despite creating chances, the German team failed to capitalize on their opportunities, and the introduction of Conceicao proved to be the turning point in the match. Munich-born Karim Adeyemi rattled the crossbar with eight minutes remaining, but Germany could not find an equalizer and will now have to content themselves with a third-placed match in Stuttgart on Sunday.

Portugal Marches On

Portugal, the winner of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, will now face either European champion Spain or France in Sunday’s final at the same venue. The team had four players backing up from winning Saturday’s Champions League final, but it was their determination and resilience that ultimately paid off. Roberto Martinez’s substitutions had a telling impact, and the Portuguese team will be looking to carry this momentum into the final.

AS IT HAPPENED | GERMANY VS PORTUGAL HIGHLIGHTS

• 6′ – Ronaldo comes close to scoring the opener, but his shot is saved by Ter Stegen.
• 18′ – Woltemade’s low shot is well saved by Costa.
• 48′ – Wirtz gives Germany the lead with a clever header.
• 60′ – Conceicao equalizes with a superb curling shot.
• 68′ – Ronaldo scores the winner with a nerveless tap-in.

The victory marks a significant milestone for Portugal, and Ronaldo’s goal will be remembered for a long time. As the team prepares for the final, they will be looking to carry this momentum forward and claim their second Nations League title.

Content originally published by sportstar.thehindu.com