Goncalo Ramos coolly chipped the ball into the web after Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland handed it straight to him. Picture: AFP
OSLO:
Goncalo Ramos began instead of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the winner as Portugal made it back-to-back victories to start out their UEFA Nations League title defence by beating Norway 2-1 in Oslo on Sunday.
Jorge Jesus’s males have responded effectively to their tame World Cup last-16 loss to Spain, having additionally overwhelmed Wales 1-0 in Group A4 on Thursday.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo was named among the many substitutes for the primary time for Portugal since a Nations League sport towards Scotland in September 2024, and didn’t get onto the pitch as Jesus appears to be like to handle his minutes throughout an expanded worldwide break.
World Cup quarter-finalists Norway had been left to rue some wasteful ending in entrance of purpose as they didn’t construct on their opening 3-2 win over Denmark.
The primary massive likelihood fell to Erling Haaland, however the Manchester Metropolis striker mishit his tried volley after being picked out by Martin Odegaard, and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was in a position to make the save.
The away workforce shortly made Haaland pay as Joao Felix stroked a effective end into the underside nook from the sting of the field within the seventeenth minute.
Haaland regarded sure to equalise shortly afterwards when Costa spilled the ball into his path, however he was denied by an outstanding block from his Metropolis teammate Ruben Dias.
The Norway talisman was foiled by Costa once more 10 minutes earlier than half-time because the ‘keeper made a wonderful cease from his downward header.
Haaland lastly transformed six minutes into the second half, tapping in from Patrick Berg’s header throughout purpose.
However Norway gave again the lead instantly to their opponents, as goalkeeper Orjan Nyland handed the ball straight to Ramos, who coolly chipped it into the web.
Rafael Leao had a shot deflected onto the crossbar as Portugal pushed to make the sport secure.
Nyland had his blushes spared when a VAR assessment dominated out one other opportunistic Ramos effort for the tightest of offsides.
The ‘keeper waited for an extended go excessive to succeed in him, then took a swipe at skinny air as Ramos bought to the ball earlier than him and rolled it into an empty internet.
Norway threw everybody ahead, together with Nyland, within the closing levels, however couldn’t discover one other leveller.