Denmark secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Portugal in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final tie. The winning goal was scored by Rasmus Hojlund, who came off the bench to seal the win for the Danes.
Hojlund’s 78th-minute strike was a calm finish from Andreas Skov Olsen’s cross, and it gave Denmark a deserved victory. The Manchester United forward celebrated his goal by doing Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘sui’ celebration, but he was quick to defend his actions.
Hojlund told Danish broadcaster TV2 that his celebration was not meant to mock Ronaldo, who is his idol. “I’ve always said he has had great importance for me and my football career,” Hojlund said.
The victory was a significant one for Denmark, who will now head to Lisbon for the second leg with a crucial advantage. Portugal, on the other hand, will need to regroup and find a way to overcome the deficit.
Denmark’s new boss, Brian Riemer, will be delighted with the result, which was achieved through a solid team performance. Christian Eriksen had a first-half penalty saved by Diogo Costa, but Denmark continued to push for the breakthrough.
Eriksen also had a shot cleared off the line by Diogo Dalot, and a free-kick saved as Denmark pushed for the win. Portugal, on the other hand, were disappointing, with captain Ronaldo failing to make an impact.
The defeat means that Portugal will need to win the second leg to advance to the next round. If they fail to do so, they will be relegated to Scotland’s World Cup qualifying group.
Denmark, on the other hand, will be confident of advancing to the next round. They have a strong squad and a solid team ethos, and they will be looking to build on this victory.
