Portugal maintained their perfect Nations League record with a 2-1 home win over Norway on Sunday, sealing a place in the March quarter-finals, while Erling Haaland limped off for the visitors, potentially worsening Manchester City's problems.
Portugal seal top-two finish
Gonçalo Ramos netted 11 minutes from time to secure a top-two finish in Group A4, moving Portugal six points clear of second-placed Denmark, who won 1-0 at Wales. The victory at the Estádio Do Dragão came amid fallout from Cristiano Ronaldo's abrupt exit from the squad last week, following his dispute with coach Jorge Jesus, though Portugal triumphed without him in Denmark last Thursday.
Norway took the lead in the 36th minute through centre-back Kristoffer Ajer, who hit a dipping half-volley from the edge of the box. João Cancelo's equaliser two minutes later was even more impressive, with Ramos's winner coming off his calf after João Félix had headed across goal.
Red card and Ronaldo's future
Portugal's win was soured by a red card for Francisco Conceição four minutes from time, after he gave the referee a cynical thumbs up following a yellow card and was immediately shown a second. Afterwards, Jesus said Ronaldo can return to the squad if he wishes: “If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team … we can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide.”
Netherlands top group on goal difference
The Netherlands took over at the top of Group A2 after beating Serbia 2-1 in Eindhoven, but only on goal difference from Greece, who held on for a goalless draw at home to Germany in Thessaloniki. With captain Virgil van Dijk celebrating a 100th cap, the Netherlands went ahead when Teun Koopmeiners's 31st-minute free-kick crept into the corner, but Aleksa Terzic crossed for teenager Mihajlo Cvetkovic to head in his first international goal and level within four minutes.
Denzel Dumfries's low cross was turned back across the goal by Tijjani Reijnders, sliding in at the far post, and tapped in by Joshua Zirkzee, who received a late call-up to the Dutch squad last week, to restore the lead in the 72nd minute. Germany dominated away against Greece, but Jürgen Klopp's inexperienced side could not find the net, and they have won only one of their first four games under the new coach.
Other results
Austria needed a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Kosovo but still have a three-point lead at the top of Group B3 after the Republic of Ireland and Israel drew 1-1 behind closed doors in the Serbian town of Backa Topola. In Group D2, Abdulakh Khaybulayev's first-half goal was enough to send Azerbaijan top of the standings with a 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Lithuania, while veteran Teddy Teuma came on as a second-half substitute to hand Malta a 1-0 home win over Andorra in Group D1.
