Portugal suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Denmark at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Sunday marking their first loss in the UEFA Nations League group stage.
The match opened the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era for the Quinas Selection, who played their first fixture since their longtime captain announced his retirement from international football.
The result leaves Portugal at the top of Group 4 with 12 points from five matches, while Denmark climbed to nine points in second place, narrowing the gap at the summit to three points, as detikSport reported.
The deadlock broke in the 43rd minute when Ruben Dias was penalized for a handball inside the penalty area following a VAR review. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg stepped up and converted the resulting spot-kick with a powerful shot past goalkeeper Diogo Costa, giving the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.
Hojlund Dominates Second Half
Hojlund struck again just seven minutes later to put the visitors up 3-0. The striker collected a through ball from Hojbjerg, rounded Renato Veiga and Costa, and slotted his shot into the far corner of the net. Joachim Andersen added a fourth goal in the 75th minute by heading in a free-kick delivered by Mathias Jensen.
Portugal managed a late response during stoppage time when Carlos Forbs broke down the right flank and Joao Neves forced a save from Mads Hermansen. Bernardo Silva pounced on the resulting rebound to turn it into the back of the net in the 91st minute, securing a solitary consolation goal for the hosts.
Honorary Redesign for Jersey Number Seven
Ahead of the fixture, the Portuguese federation modified the design of the iconic number seven shirt to honor Ronaldo following his retirement, as ANTARA News Southeast Sulawesi reported. The adjustment serves to immortalize the jersey number most closely associated with the forward during his tenure with the national team.
Ronaldo ended his international career with 146 goals in 234 appearances, a record span that included leading Portugal to victory at the 2016 European Championship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which player scored two goals for Denmark?
Rasmus Hojlund scored two goals for Denmark during the second half of the match in Braga.
How does the Group 4 standings look after this match?
Portugal remains at the top of Group 4 with 12 points, while Denmark sits in second place with 9 points.
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