Portugal vs Croatia highlights, Nations League: POR 2-1 CRO; Ronaldo scores record 900th career goal

Portugal starts the Nations League on a high with a 2-1 victory over Croatia and it also witnessed Ronaldo’s career 900th goal. Croatia created the better chances in the second half however its only goal came in the first-half, that too by Dalot who scored in both nets tonight.

Crotia had a final chance as it pushed into the box with most of their players looking for an opening as they kept passing the ball around but unfortunately for them, Portugal kept it tight at the back and in the end the ball went out for a goalkick.

Ronaldo is subbed off for Diogo Jota as he receives a standing ovation.

Portugal breaks into an attack from the left wing as Ronaldo pushes ahead and cuts it back to Nelson Semedo but his shot id deflected away for a corner-kick.

Perisic whipped a sold cross into the box from the right wing but Matanovic’s header goes narrowly wide.

Free-kick for Ronaldo from a dangerous position near the box. Ronaldo stands in his iconic pose and fires a shot but it goes straight to the wall. 

Pasalic was through on goal and was about to take the shot from inside the box but Dalot makes an incredible sliding tackle to win the ball back and stop a sure-shot goal.

Bruno Fernandes takes a long-ranger but too much down the middle, saved by the keeper with ease.

Nuno Mendes’ shot is saved well by the Croatian keeper as the parity still remains just one goal.

Ronaldo had a golden chance as Nuno Mendes passes it to the captain in front of the goal but his shot is blocked by the defender in the nick of time.

Croatia wins a corner as the ball is crossed to Gvardiol inside the box but his header is stopped comfortably by the Portuguese keeper.

Croatia kicked the second half off but Portugal won the ball right away as it will hope to extend its lead.

Portugal is ahead by a goal at half-time as Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal and made history!

One minute added on by the ref!

Neto beats his man on the right wing and fires a shot from inside the box but the ball strikes the crossbar. So unlucky!!

plays a low driver cross through the box as the attacker fires a shot which could have missed the post, but Dalot made a heavy deflection and kicked the ball into the net.

Ronaldo volleyed a cross coming towards the far post as he slotted the ball in the back of the net and scores his 900th goal!

Kramaric gets the ball at the edge of the box and fires a shot which floated through the air but a diving Costa saved it to keep a clean sheet for Portugal.

Croatia built a steady attack this time as it pushed ahead in numbers and made its way into the final third with short passing across the field but Portugal was prompt to clear the ball when it got the hold of it. 

Leao gets a threaded pass inside the box and he rolls it behind for Ronaldo but the striker’s shot towards the near post is met by a strong save by the keeper.

Portugal is passing the ball around in confidence but Croatia too has had its moments in these early embers of the game.

Croatia on the front foot this time as Pasalic backlheels it to Modric who whips a quick shot with power from inside the box and grazes the side-netting. Big chances goes begging for the Croats.

Croatia wins a corner and plays it short but its set-piece move amounts to nothing and Portugal breaks into a counter which is stopped by the Croatian keeper.

Dalot gets the ball inside the box as he joins the attack out of nowhere and is found by Bruno Fernandes. Dalot beats his marker and finds the back of the net.

Bernardo tries to dink it into the box for Bruno but Croatia’s backline clears it!

Ronaldo dribbles from the left and passes it on to Leao who crosses it into the box. Croatia fails to clear it properly as the ball lands to Bruno Fernandes but his shot is saved beautifully by the Croatian keeper.

Modric plays a through ball to Kramaric but called offside.

Portugal kicks the game off donning its white kit as it hopes to begin its UEFA Nations League campaign on a high against Croatia.

There was a moment of silence for the death of former Portuguese footballer Adolfo Calisto.

Where to watch the live telecast of the Portugal vs Croatia Nations League match?

The Portugal vs Croatia Nations League match will be live telecasted on the Sony Sports network.

Where to live stream the Portugal vs Croatia Nations League match?

The match can be live-streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.

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Portugal is set to host Croatia in its Nations League opener on Thursday before welcoming Scotland in League A Group One on Sunday, Martinez said that he took positives from their penalty shootout defeat to France in the quarterfinals at the Euros and that his side will be stronger for the experience.

“Criticism is part of the demand we will always have. But the internal demands are even stronger than the demands of the fans,” Martinez told a press conference on Wednesday.

“We always want to win but the big tournaments have the best players in the world, so games are decided by details. The detail is often a penalty where the ball goes in or out.

“We showed character, we controlled the game against France and we grew a lot as a team. The group was ready to play two more games, but I really liked our character. We did very well in many aspects.”

Martinez said his players are experienced enough to deal with the pressure and turn the page on the heartbreaking shootout loss after a goalless stalemate, which summed up Portugal’s disappointing campaign, as they struggled to be effective up-front.

The Spanish manager said that his main focus was to build his team around their attack and that the fans should expect a more aggressive side than the one they saw in Germany

Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled out any immediate thought of retirement from international football as he believes he still has plenty to give Portugal, he told a press conference on Monday.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for almost two years now, failed to score as he appeared at a record sixth European Championship this year, with Portugal exiting in the quarterfinals.

In spite of the criticism he received in the press conference Ronaldo said he “never considered leaving the national team” and he has retained the backing of coach Roberto Martinez.