UEFA Nations League
Portugal beat Spain to win second Nations League final
Portugal became the first team to win the UEFA Nations League on two occasions after beating Spain 5-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in the final at the Munich Football Arena.
Both teams were involved in entertaining and pulsating semi-finals and this decider simply picked up where those left off. João Neves went close for Portugal early on while Pedri and Nico Williams narrowly missed the target in a captivating opening 20 minutes. An opening goal felt inevitable.
It was Spain who made the breakthrough, Martin Zubimendi tapping in after Roberto Martínez's men twice failed to adequately clear a teasing Lamine Yamal cross. The 17-year-old Yamal had been well shackled in a fascinating duel with Nuno Mendes to that point and the Portugal full-back responded with a brilliant equaliser. Receiving Pedro Neto's pass 20 metres out, Nuno Mendes surged away from Oscar Mingueza and drilled his finish across Unai Simón for his first international goal.
Luis de la Fuente's side were unruffled and responded on the stroke of half-time in a way befitting of a team unbeaten in 24 competitive matches. This time Pedri was the architect, advancing menacingly before playing a perfectly-weighted through ball that Mikel Oyarzabal expertly clipped past the onrushing Diogo Costa.
The half-time introductions of Rúben Neves and Nélson Semedo solidified the Seleção and they drew level again through Cristiano Ronaldo's eighth strike of this Nations League campaign. Nuno Mendes was at the heart of the action once more, darting past Yamal before his deflected cross found Ronaldo, who held off Marc Cucurella to volley in from close range – his 138th international goal.
Portugal's all-time top scorer limped off towards the end of normal time but they then created the first serious opening of extra time when Nélson Semedo scuffed wide. The Seleção's tails were up, with substitute Rafael Leão spearheading their pursuit of a winning goal, but Diogo Jota's late header over was as close as they came.
And so to penalties where the first seven found the net before Álvaro Morata was thwarted by Diogo Costa, allowing Rúben Neves to drive in the decisive spot kick.
(With inputs from uefa.com)
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