LISBON: Portugal beat Denmark 5-3 on aggregate to reach the Nations League semifinals on Sunday, winning a pulsating second leg 5-2 after extra time.
Portugal will face Finals hosts Germany in June in the last four after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to brave Denmark.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty but later scored a crucial goal, before Francisco Trincao’s late double set Roberto Martinez’s men on course for the semis.
Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel stared down Ronaldo’s stuttering run-up to save a fluffed spot-kick on six minutes, diving left and comfortably holding the ball.
But Portugal eventually pushed the tie to extra time at 3-2 on the night, despite Denmark twice edging ahead on aggregate.
Portugal first drew level on aggregate when Joachim Andersen’s panicked clearance looped horribly into his own goal in the 38th minute.
But, unmarked at a corner, Rasmus Kristensen’s cool header put Denmark back in front overall on 56 minutes.
Ronaldo redeemed himself for his penalty error, pouncing on a rebound to score with 18 minutes left, only for Christian Eriksen to then silence the home crowd by tapping into an open goal four minutes later.
Playing in his home Sporting Lisbon stadium, substitute winger Trincao then sent the game to extra time with a late, left-footed strike.
Shortly after the restart, he threaded his second goal through a sea of players to put Portugal in the driving seat.
Trincao was then involved in the build-up for Goncalo Ramos’s clincher in a full-blooded encounter.
Denmark arrived with a first-leg lead from Thursday and departed with their heads held high after their stoic resistance, along with Portugal’s unrelenting attack, ensured a battle that swung either way several times.
Winners of the inaugural tournament in 2019, Portugal are aiming to become the first team to lift the Nations League trophy for a second time.
Portugal beat Denmark in thrilling Nations League quarter-final
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Portugal beat Denmark in thrilling Nations League quarter-final
- Portugal will face Finals hosts Germany in June in the last four after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to brave Denmark
Leipzig dismantle Frankfurt 6-0 with Diomande hat-trick
- Diomande bagged his goals between the 47th and 65th minutes to take his season tally to six league goals
- Conrad Harder put the hosts in the driving seat after five minutes
LEIPZIG, Germany: RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande became the second youngest player in Bundesliga history to score a hat-trick when he netted three times in 18 minutes in their 6-0 demolition of visitors Eintracht Frankfurt 6-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday as they tightened their hold on second spot in the Bundesliga.
The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international bagged his goals between the 47th and 65th minutes to take his season tally to six league goals. Only Frankfurt’s Walter Bechtold was younger when he scored his hat-trick in November 1965.
Conrad Harder put the hosts in the driving seat after five minutes, timing his run perfectly to head the ball over Eintracht keeper Michael Zetterer, who came charging out of his goal.
Frankfurt hit the crossbar with Mo Dahoud’s stunning shot from 20 meters out but Leipzig hit them on the rebound, immediately launching a quick break, with Harder cutting back for Christoph Baumgartner to tap in their second goal after half an hour.
Diomande then took over, scoring twice before David Raum made it 5-0 with a 62nd minute penalty. The teenager completed his maiden Bundesliga hat-trick with another superb finish three minutes later.
Leipzig are on 29 points in second place, eight behind leaders Bayern Munich, winners 5-0 at VfB Stuttgart. Third-placed Borussia Dortmund, on 25, are in action against Hoffenheim on Sunday.
