Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa denied Christian Eriksen from the penalty spot after receiving advice from Cristiano Ronaldo on which way to dive. Costa’s crucial stop keeps the UEFA Nations League quarter-final clash level at 0-0.
In the first half, the match was evenly contested, though Denmark had the better chances to score. Costa emerged as the standout player, not only for saving a penalty but also for making key interventions in other dangerous situations.
One of those moments came from a shot by Mika Biereth, which narrowly missed the near post. On the other side, Portugal struggled to create clear opportunities. Pedro Neto came closest with a powerful shot in the first half, but Denmark’s goalkeeper was up to the challenge.
Meanwhile, captain Ronaldo had a quiet first half, with no clear chances on goal. This marks his first appearance for Portugal since the forward turned 40 in February.
For Portugal, Ronaldo scored five goals during the group stage. He is also the third-highest scorer on the Nations League all-time list with 12 goals. However, in three previous matches against Denmark, he has yet to score or register an assist.
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Portugal and Denmark will meet again for the second leg
Portugal, champions of the first-ever Nations League in 2018–19, head into the knockout stage as one of the favorites after a dominant group stage campaign, where they scored 18 goals and stayed unbeaten at home.
Roberto Martinez’s side now take on Denmark, who secured a quarter-final spot by finishing second in their group behind Spain, recording two wins, two draws, and two losses. The two teams will meet again for the second leg on Sunday, March 23.
