Portugal post win without Ronaldo
MADRID: No Cristiano Ronaldo, no problem.
European champion Portugal sparkled on Thursday despite the absence of their star forward, defeating Poland to move a step closer to the last four stage of the UEFA Nations League.
With young Sevilla striker Andre Silva scoring again, Portugal won 3-2 in Chorzow to take control of Group 3 of the top-tier League A in Europe’s newest competition.
Portugal now have six points from two games and are five ahead of Poland and Italy. Only the group winner advances to June’s last-four competition.
A draw between Poland and Italy in Chorzow on Sunday will guarantee Portugal finish as group winner. Portugal play a friendly in Scotland the same day. “Overall we dominated,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said. “Poland started well and scored, but we were able to take control and were deserved winners.”
It was Portugal’s third straight game without Ronaldo, who hasn’t played an international since his transfer from Real Madrid to Juventus. Ronaldo has also been the recent subject of rape allegations. The 33-year-old forward denies any wrongdoing.
Genoa striker Krzysztof Piatek, Serie A’s leading scorer, gave Poland an 18th-minute lead with his first international goal.
The visitors equalised with a close-range effort from Silva after Poland 2 Russia 0 Israel 2 Montenegro 0 Lithuania 1 Faroe Islands 0 Kosovo 3 Portugal 3 Sweden 0 Scotland 1 Serbia 2 Romania 2 Azerbaijan 3 Malta 1
a pass from Pizzi Fernandes in the 32nd. It was his seventh goal in Portugal’s last six competitive away games. Portugal made it 2-1 just before halftime with an own goal from defender Kamil Glik.
Bernardo Silva added the third goal with a long-range shot in the 52nd minute before Jakub Blaszczykowski marked his record 103rd cap for Poland by pulling one back with a low volley in the 77th. Blaszczykowski has now eclipsed Michal Zewlakow on the all-time list of Poland appearances.
Robert Lewandowski made his 100th appearance but was unable to add to his tally of 55 Poland goals. “It’s not the result we were looking for,” Poland defender Jan Bednarek said. “We wanted to make our fans proud. We had good moments in the game but bad ones too.”