Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal as Portugal beat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday night to reach the UEFA Nations League final.
The match, played in Munich, saw Ronaldo end a long run without a win against Germany and extend his international goal tally to 137.
Germany took the lead just after the break when Florian Wirtz scored a smart header following a slick team move. But Portugal hit back with two goals, first through a solo effort from Francisco Conceicao and then Ronaldo’s tap-in with just over 20 minutes to play.
The win means Portugal will play either Spain or France in Sunday’s final, also in Munich. The Germans, meanwhile, will settle for a third-place match in Stuttgart.
How the Match Unfolded
After a delay caused by a heavy storm and hailstones, the game got off to a slow start. Ronaldo came close to scoring in the sixth minute, but German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a solid save.
Germany had their best chance of the first half when debutant Nick Woltemade tested Portugal's goalkeeper Diogo Costa, but the tall striker was denied.
Wirtz gave Germany the lead in the 48th minute after combining with captain Joshua Kimmich. He started the move himself and finished it with a low header into the corner.
Portugal responded well. Substitute Francisco Conceicao made an instant impact, running half the length of the pitch and curling in a brilliant shot to make it 1-1 in the 65th minute.
Just three minutes later, Nuno Mendes crossed the ball into the box and Ronaldo was there to finish from close range. The goal gave Portugal their first-ever win over Germany after five previous losses.
Germany almost equalised when Karim Adeyemi hit the crossbar late in the game, but Portugal held on.
What’s Next
Portugal, champions of the first Nations League in 2019, are now one win away from a second title. Germany, who had lost only once in 17 previous games, will now focus on finishing third.
The final takes place on Sunday, and all eyes will once again be on Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to make history for his country.
