Cristiano Ronaldo was last night’s hero as Portugal secured a resounding 5-1 victory over Poland, guaranteeing their spot in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals. The match, played in Porto on Friday, saw Ronaldo score a penalty and a stunning overhead kick to close out a dominant second-half performance. Meanwhile, the Romania-Kosovo game in Bucharest ended in chaos, with the match being suspended in stoppage time after tensions boiled over on the pitch.
Portugal’s Dominance Led by Ronaldo
In a high-stakes clash, Portugal took time to break down Poland’s defence. However, the floodgates opened in the second half when Rafael Leão headed in the opener just 14 minutes after the restart. Ronaldo then added to his tally, converting a penalty to make it 4-1, bringing his international goal count to 134. Not one to miss the spotlight, Ronaldo capped off the night with a sensational overhead kick, his 135th goal for Portugal, sealing the emphatic win.
The result ended Poland’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals and placed Portugal firmly among the favourites, joining France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, who have also secured their spots in the next round. The quarterfinals are scheduled to take place from March 20-23, with these top teams also earning favourable positions in Pot 1 for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Controversy in Bucharest: Romania vs. Kosovo Abandoned
A dark cloud hung over the Nations League after the match between Romania and Kosovo was abandoned during stoppage time with the score at 0-0. The game, played in Bucharest saw scuffles between players, leading to Kosovo’s team walking off the pitch. While UEFA has not yet clarified the exact reasons behind the match’s suspension, reports suggest that Kosovo players were upset by pro-Serbian slogans heard from the stands.
The incident highlights the delicate tensions in the Balkans, where historic animosities remain. Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, continues to face resistance from Serbia, which regards it as its territory. UEFA is expected to issue a formal statement regarding the incident in the coming days.
Scotland’s Narrow Victory Keeps Hopes Alive
Scotland stunningly beat Croatia with a dramatic 1-0 win in Glasgow, their first victory in nine games. The match saw Croatia reduced to 10 men just before halftime after Petar Sucic received a second yellow card. Despite the numerical advantage, Scotland struggled to convert opportunities until substitute John McGinn scored the decisive goal just four minutes before full-time. The win keeps Scotland’s hopes alive of avoiding relegation to the second tier, with a crucial match against Poland in Warsaw looming.
Spain Prevails Over Denmark, Serbia Saves Point in Switzerland
Spain continued its dominance in Group A4 with a 2-1 triumph over Denmark in Copenhagen. The European champions took an early lead thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal, who capitalized on poor Danish defending. Ayoze Pérez sealed the win with a clinical finish after Dani Olmo’s assist, ensuring Spain finishes atop the group. Denmark, which hasn’t beaten Spain since 1993, remains in second place and will face Serbia on Monday for a decisive showdown.
Over in Zurich, Switzerland looked set to win against Serbia after Zeki Amdouni’s 79th-minute goal, only for Aleksa Terzić to equalize with just minutes remaining. Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrović had a chance to give his side the lead earlier in the match, but his penalty was brilliantly saved by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The draw condemns Switzerland to relegation into League B.
Northern Ireland Edges Closer to Promotion
In Group C3, Northern Ireland continued its march towards promotion with a solid 2-0 win over Belarus. Goals from Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles secured three crucial points, leaving Martin O’Neil’s side needing just a draw in Luxembourg on Monday to clinch promotion to League B. In the same group, Bulgaria secured a narrow 1-0 away victory against Luxembourg, keeping its promotion hopes alive.
San Marino’s Last-Gasp Equalizer Against Gibraltar
Group D1 remains one of the most tightly contested, with San Marino salvaging a 1-1 draw against Gibraltar thanks to a stoppage-time penalty. Gibraltar initially took the lead through a penalty by Liam Walker, but San Marino’s Nanni equalized late on to keep their promotion hopes alive. With one game left to play, all three teams Gibraltar, San Marino, and Liechtenstein are still in contention for promotion to League C.
