Portugal was forced to a goalless draw (0-0) by hosts Scotland. Cristiano Ronaldo looked frustrated. The away team was dominant, but the home team played effectively to secure points.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, Portugal visited Scotland at Hampden Park in the continuation of the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 Group A1. The match was tough, Portugal was frustrated by the opponent’s defense.
Previously, Portugal always won the first three matches. However, this time Cristiano Ronaldo and his friends had difficulty breaking through Scotland’s goal.
In fact, Portugal recorded 14 chances throughout the match. In addition, Selecao das Quinas also controlled the ball up to 70 percent.
Portugal national team coach Roberto Martinez made a number of rotations to his chosen starting line-up. However, he still included Cristiano Ronaldo as a starter to guard the Selecao das Quinas front line.
As a result, the Portuguese national team appeared more dominant with ball possession reaching 66 percent throughout the match. In addition, Portugal was also able to release 14 shots with 4 of them aimed right at the Scottish goal.
On the other hand, The Tartan Army managed to launch 2 shots on target from 4 attempts at the Portuguese goal.
The match was exciting since the first half had just started with both teams launching attacks on each other. As the host, Scotland was even able to put pressure on Portugal’s back line at the start of the first half.
In fact, The Tartan Army almost scored a goal when the match had only been going on for four minutes.
Through a neat attack scheme from the right side of Portugal’s defense, Andrew Robertson sent a cross into the away team’s penalty box. The ball was well received by Scott McTominay with his header which went straight into the Portuguese national team’s goal.
However, goalkeeper Diogo Costa apparently still performed agilely and managed to anticipate the Napoli midfielder’s header very well.
Not wanting to lose, Portugal opened their first opportunity through Cristiano Ronaldo four minutes later. Unfortunately, Ronaldo’s left-footed shot from outside the penalty box was still well caught by the Scottish goalkeeper, Craig Gordon.
Cristiano Ronaldo had created another opportunity for Portugal in the 31st minute with a scissor kick in the penalty box.
However, the ball went wide of the left side of the Scottish goal and Ronaldo’s action was considered a violation by referee Lawrence Visser because he was considered to have lifted his leg too high when dueling with Billy Gilmour.
Portugal continued to try to score their first goal in this match, but the tight Scottish defense was difficult to penetrate. Until the half-time whistle sounded, the score was still goalless.
In the second half, Portugal immediately stepped on the gas to attack the home team’s defense. In the 48th minute, Ronaldo again got a good chance in front of the Scottish goal after receiving a cross from Diogo Jota.
Unfortunately for Selecao das Quinas, CR7’s header still soared over Craig Gordon’s crossbar.
Three minutes later, Ronaldo opened up another opportunity for Portugal by providing a cross to Francisco Conceicao. Unfortunately, Conceicao’s kick was still too high and failed to hit the target into the Scottish goal.
Not being able to score a goal, Roberto Martinez tried to freshen up the attack line of his team.
Rafael Leao and Bernardo Silva were brought in in the 61st minute to replace Diogo Jota and Francisco Conceicao.
However, the entry of the two players apparently did not change much of Cristiano Ronaldo et al’s game.
Until the match ended, the goalless draw remained and Portugal had to be willing to share points.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo failed to add to his goal tally to 907 in his career record.
Despite only getting one point, Portugal remains at the top of the standings with 10 points. Portugal is three points ahead of Croatia who sits in second place.
