Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal fought back to beat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday and reach the Nations League final.
The former Real Madrid star lost each of the previous five games he’d played against Germany, while Portugal hadn’t beaten the 2014 World Cup champions since 2000.
Germany dominated the first half, but it remained goalless thanks to the heroics of Portugal keeper Diogo Costa.
Then Ronaldo, 40, captained Portugal and scored his 137th international goal five minutes after substitute Conceição had made it 1-1.
“We need to enjoy the victory — we won for the first time in a while against Germany,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.
Portugal rallied to defeat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday, winning thanks to a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, and advanced to the Nations League final.
Ending his “curse” against Germany, Ronaldo became the oldest player to ever score against the nation. The former Real Madrid player had lost all five of his prior encounters with Germany, and Portugal hadn’t triumphed over the 2014 World Cup winners since 2000.
Despite Germany’s dominance in the first half, Portugal’s keeper Diogo Costa’s heroics kept the scoreless score.
The goalkeeper had a great start to the first half, making a strong save after four minutes to block a low effort from Leon Goretzka of Germany.
Two minutes later, Costa made another stunning save to save Portugal from Nick Woltemade’s close-range attempt, diving low to tip away another Goretzka attempt.
In the 48th minute, Joshua Kimmich lobbed a precise pass, and Florian Wirtz headed in unmarked in the box to give Germany the lead.
Portugal, on the other hand, changed the course of the game, first equalizing in the 63rd minute through substitute Francisco Conceição.
After substitute Conceição had made it 1-1, Ronaldo, 40, captained Portugal and scored his 137th goal for his country five minutes later.
Conceicao made the victory even more meaningful because his father, Sergio, scored a hat trick the last time Portugal defeated Germany, at the 2000 European Championship.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez stated, “We need to enjoy the victory — we won for the first time in a while against Germany.”. “We were outstanding tactically, and our dedication was beneficial. The victory was a team effort.
“We are now able to recuperate and assess. We want this shirt to have more personality in its performance. “.”.
When Karim Adeyemi, a substitute, scored a strong rising shot with his left foot, Germany attempted to change the momentum, but it struck Costa’s right-hand post.
Four days after helping Paris Saint-Germain defeat Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday in the same stadium, Vitinha was outstanding as Portugal won the match.
Marc-André ter Stegen, the goalkeeper for Germany, made a number of outstanding saves in the closing minutes to keep the visitors from scoring any more goals.
Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade made his Germany debut, while PSG wing backs João Neves and Nuno Mendes both started for Portugal.
Conceição surged past Robin Gosens as if the defender wasn’t there, and he only needed five minutes to make an impression with a spectacular long-range strike inside the far post. Five minutes later, Ronaldo received a straightforward finish from Mendes.
Mendes stated that “it could have been more.”.
Germany captain Kimmich had a disappointing 100th appearance.
“The loss is totally justified,” Kimmich declared. Our performance in the first half was inadequate. Nothing happened in the second half after the team had taken a 1-0 lead. “.”.
To decide who will play Portugal, the winners of the 2019 Nations League inaugural tournament, in the final on Sunday, Spain and France will square off in the other semifinal in Stuttgart on Thursday.
This story used information from The Associated Press and Reuters.
