Portugal edge Spain in penalty thriller to claim second UEFA Nations League title

Portugal has become the first-ever nation in the history of European International football to win the UEFA Nations League for the second time. The team led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes registered a victory in the penalty shootout after the game ended 2-2 in the normal and additional extra time at Allianz Arena. It was Ruben Neves’ goal that sent the Allianz Arena to delirium. 

As it happened:

The game started on a positive note with both teams engaging and fighting for the ball. Portugal had the first shot of the game with Joao Neves shooting it wide of the mark in the sixth minute, but Spain grew into the game. It was Spain in fact who dominated the possession as the first half progressed. They created the chances on the left flank with Nico Williams troubling Joao Neves, who was defending that side. The goal came through an unlikely goalscorer in Martin Zubimendi. 

He found the net after the Portuguese defenders had blocked the initial shot. Lamine Yamal’s teasing ball caused confusion between Costa and Neves, and neither dealt with it properly. The ball fell kindly into the foot of Zubimendi, who rifled the ball into the net in the 21st minute of the game. While they conceded the early goal, Portugal neither rested nor panicked. Portugal used their left flank to create chances.

The equalizer did not come through any attacker but the Champions League winner, Nuno Mendes. Nuno Mendes found the sweet spot of the ball and hit with brute force, getting past Unai Simon. The goal made it 1-1 before the half-an-hour mark. While Spain dominated in possession, Portugal continued to press high in search of the ball. Spain again found a space in the middle with Oyarabazal converting with the sharp finish. This helped La Rioja to go into the break 2-1.

The rejuvenated Portuguese side sent a wave of attack in the second half with Nuno Mendes leading the charge. At the stroke of the hour mark, Portugal found Cristiano Ronaldo and the 40-year-old did what he does best. After a cross from Nuno Mendes, which was defeated by the Spanish defender's interception, it fell kindly to Ronaldo. 

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player found the back of the net to put his side back on level terms. While both sides tried to get the decisive goal in the last ten minutes, it did not yield any results, pushing the game into the additional extra time. Diogo Costa came on top on several occasions with him being tested occasionally by the Spaniards.

The exhaustion saw both teams unable to score a goal with some uncharacteristic and rookie errors. After 30 minutes, no team could find the back of the net, pushing to the decisive penalty shootout. Gonçalo Ramos converted the first penalty for Portugal, whereas Merino, the stand-in striker for Arsenal, equalized for Spain. Both teams went shoulder to shoulder with Vitinha scoring for Portugal and Baena scoring for Spain in the second set of penalties.

Even in the third set, Bruno Fernandes scored with the coolness that he exudes for Manchester United. For Spain, it was the substitute, Isco, who found the goal. The Player of the Tournament, Nuno Mendes, completely scored the top bins from the penalty spot at the fourth attempt and Diogo Costa came in clutch for the team as he saved Álvaro Morata’s shot. Ruben Neves stepped in for the decisive penalty and scored it past Unai Simon to lift the second-ever UEFA Nations League.

UEFA Nations League: Portugal vs Spain Player Ratings

Portugal - Player Ratings

• Diogo Costa - 6.7 
• João Neves - 4.8 
• Rúben Dias - 7.3 
• Gonçalo Inácio - 6 
• Nuno Mendes - 8.1 
• Bernardo Silva - 6.7 
• Vitinha - 7.5 
• Francisco Conceição - 6.2 
• Bruno Fernandes - 6.6
• Pedro Neto - 7.3
• Cristiano Ronaldo - 7.4

Subs: Nelson Semedo - 6.7, Rúben Neves - 6.4, Renato Veiga - 6.1, Rafael Leão - 6, Gonçalo Ramos - 5.8, Diogo Jota- 6.3

Spain- Player Ratings

• Unai Simón 5.6 
• Óscar Mingueza 6 
• Robin Le Normand 6.8 
• Dean Huijsen 6.8 
• Marc Cucurella 7.3
• Martín Zubimendi 8.5 
• Pedri 8.2 
• Fabián Ruiz 7.1 
• Lamine Yamal 7.2 
• Nico Williams 6.8 
• Mikel Oyarzabal 7.4 

Subs: Mikel Merino- 5.9, Isco-6.6, Álex Baena- 6.5, Pedro Porro -  6.4, Yéremy Pino - 6.7, Álvaro Morata - N/A