Portugal put the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to at least one facet as they edged Denmark 4-2 within the UEFA Nations League on Thursday.
Joao Felix made the win secure late within the second half after the hosts had twice fought again to degree.
With the pre-match build-up dominated by five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo’s sudden departure from the staff’s coaching camp on Wednesday, coach Jorge Jesus mentioned earlier than kick-off that he simply needed his facet “to give attention to the match”.
His staff confirmed no indicators of being distracted by the furore brought on by the 41-year-old’s walk-out after Jesus introduced Ronaldo wouldn’t begin the match towards Denmark.
Portugal’s document goalscorer had already spent all of Sunday’s 2-1 Nations League win in Norway on the bench, having captained the facet within the 1-0 house victory over Wales final Thursday.
“Following the nationwide staff coach’s press convention, and after having a dialog with the Portuguese Soccer Federation president, I made a decision to go away the nationwide staff’s coaching camp,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
“In the end, I’ll inform the reality to all of the Portuguese folks about my causes for leaving the nationwide staff, to which I’ve at all times been devoted.”
Jesus, himself, mentioned Thursday: “After , we’ll positively have time to speak about” the scenario.
On the pitch, Joao Cancelo opened the scoring for Portugal inside 13 minutes, earlier than Mikkel Damsgaard curled in a leveller 10 minutes later.
Goncalo Ramos repaid Jesus’s religion in beginning him once more up entrance by restoring his nation’s lead two minutes later with a cute near-post end.
Rasmus Hojlund equalised for Denmark early within the second interval, however Paris Saint-Germain lynchpin Vitinha nodded the guests again in entrance within the 57th minute.
Substitute Felix then tucked house on the finish of a swift counter-attack with three minutes remaining to offer new boss Jesus a 3rd win from his first three matches.
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