Denmark ended Portugal’s four-match winning streak at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Tuesday, handing the hosts their first defeat in this edition of the Nations League. The match marked Portugal’s first fixture since Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg opened the scoring for the visitors in the forty-third minute. Referee intervention via a video assistant review determined that Portuguese defender Ruben Dias handled the ball inside the penalty box. The Danish captain stepped up to convert the spot kick, sending his effort into the top-left corner and leaving goalkeeper Diogo Costa with no chance to save it.
Denmark doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half. Mikkel Damsgaard delivered a precise cross to the back post, where teammate Hojlund met the ball with a left-footed volley that flew into the bottom corner.
Hojlund completed his brace in the fifty-seventh minute to put the visitors further ahead. He collected a through ball from Hojbjerg, turned past Renato Veiga, and fired a right-footed shot into the far corner to make it three-nil.
Portugal introduced substitutions to change the momentum of the fixture, sending on Carlos Forbs to replace Joao Felix in the sixty-fourth minute. The Club Brugge winger became the first player to wear Portugal’s redesigned number seven jersey, which was introduced to honour Ronaldo following his retirement.
Denmark extended their lead in the seventy-fifth minute. Joachim Andersen headed home a free-kick delivery from Mathias Jensen to push the scoreline to four-nil.
Portugal eventually grabbed a consolation goal in the third minute of stoppage time. Substitute Bernardo Silva converted from close range after goalkeeper Mads Hermansen saved an initial effort from Joao Neves.
Despite the loss, Portugal remained at the summit of Group A4 with twelve points, having already secured qualification for the Nations League quarterfinals. Denmark climbed to second place in the group standings with nine points, holding a three-point lead over Norway. Portugal will travel to face Wales on Tuesday in their final group match, while Denmark is scheduled to host Norway.
