Portugal preserved their perfect record in the UEFA Nations League after a 2-1 victory against Norway at Estádio do Dragão.
The majority of the opportunites fell for Jorge Jesus’ side but it was Norway who took the lead in the 36th minute, Kristoffer Ajer’s deflected strike sailing into the top corner.
The Seleção equalised two minutes later after a long throw in from Nuno Mendes, João Cancelo smashing a volley that flew past Egil Selvik.
The winning goal came in the 79th minute following a precise pass from Vitinha, João Félix putting the ball on a plate for Gonçalo Ramos who made it three goals in three games.
The victory takes Portugal to 12 points in Group 4 and the first team to seal a spot in the quarter-finals.
Portugal start strong
Portugal’s defence was looking shaky in the opening stages. Nuno Mendes was sloppy with the ball, João Cancelo was booked for taking out David Moller Wolfe and Rúben Dias brought down Erling Haaland which resulted in a free kick.
The first chance came in the 21st minute, João Félix seeing his shot blocked after some nice work from Francisco Trincão who was giving Wolfe a hard time.
João Cancelo saw his shot tipped over the bar by Egil Selvik as the Seleção ramped up the pressure. Norway’s opening opportunity came from Antonio Nusa who cut inside from the left wing, Diogo Costa taking no chances.
Portugal stayed on the front foot however, Bruno Fernandes and Gonçalo Ramos testing Selvik before Nuno Mendes played a 1-2 with João Palhinha and saw his shot deflected wide.
Two goals in two minutes
Norway opened the scoring against the run of play in the 36th minute. Martin Odegaard’s free kick fell to Kristoffer Ajer who tried his luck and hit the jackpot, his shot deflecting off Palhinha and giving Costa no chance.
The visitors’ joy lasted just two minutes. Mendes’ long throw wasn’t dealt with by the Norwegian defence, Cancelo unleashing an unstoppable volley that flew into the back of the net.
Cancelo was in the action at the start of the second half when his fierce strike was saved by Selvik.
Erling Haaland had been struggling to make an impact, finally getting a chance from a tight angle that he couldn’t steer on target.
Jorge Jesus brought on Diogo Dalot and Rúben Neves for Cancelo and Palhinha. Haaland then asked Stale Solbakken to come off, the striker replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Bruno Fernandes' free kick fell to Rúben Neves who couldn’t keep his volley down before another change came from the visitors, Oscar Bobb introduced for Antonio Nusa.
Ramos seals the deal
Portugal took a decisive lead in the 79th minute. Vitinha picked out João Félix who had made a run behind Norway’s defence, the forward squaring the ball to Ramos who bundled the ball over the line.
Francisco Conceição and Andreas Schjelderup went down in opposite boxes and asked for penalties that were both denied. Conceição remained on the ground for a long time and was eventually approached by referee Maurizio Mariani who showed him consecutive yellow cards for dissent.
Vitinha made way for Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto remained on the bench following Conceição’s expulsion. Fernandes was next to be booked after a late shot on Schjelderup as the game threatened to spiral out of control.
Nuno Tavares and Francisco Trincão came on for Fernandes and Félix in added time as Portugal closed out their fourth consecutive victory under Jesus.
Perfect start for Jesus
Portuguese supporters couldn’t have asked for a better set of results after Jorge Jesus replaced Roberto Martinez. Four straight wins including victories in Norway and Denmark have put Seleção into the quarter-finals.
The new manager kept faith with the same defence in all four matches. Vitinha partnered João Palhinha in midfield for the first time and Pedro Neto was given a rest after starting the opening three matches.
Bruno Fernandes reverted to a spot on the left wing with João Félix coming back into the starting side to support Gonçalo Ramos.
The combinations continue to improve as the players get used to Jesus’ tactics and demands. Félix and Ramos combined well for the winning goal and their partnership should keep improving.
The manager will have learned a lot before the internationals resume on 14 November.
Door open for Ronaldo to return
A lot of the attention will now be taken off the performances and onto the saga invoving Cristiano Ronaldo who sensationally walked out on the team after the 2-1 win in Norway.
Pedro Proença finally broke his silence about the controversy, saying: "What we feel today is that the Portuguese people have regained faith in our national team. It's the result of this new coaching staff. Portuguese football has everything to win, we have extraordinary generations"
"I'm not going to give those clarifications [about what happened], these are perfectly normal conversations between coaches and players. It's a technical area, a Federation president doesn't get involved in these matters. We're talking about the best player of all time, a player who has given more than two decades to Portuguese football."
"Cristiano Ronaldo today represents the greatest symbol of Portuguese identity, we must pay homage to Cristiano Ronaldo. He is in the National Team on his own sporting merit and that has to be absolutely unquestionable. He will always be part of this working group as long as he is technically capable."
"Cristiano knows this, he knows that's the feeling. On the specific subject, let me say that we are facing a misunderstanding that has to be resolved internally."
"Today the players showed that umbilical relationship with our current captain. Ronaldo is part of our National Team, he is our flag, he was the captain in the first of these four games and just recently coach Jesus said that he counts on Cristiano if he is in physical condition. This happens with all players."
"Ronaldo is a Portuguese icon, he is an absolutely extraordinary player who could have ended his career at the World Cup and he didn't want to because of the love he has for the National Team. I am a witness to this relationship that Ronaldo has with the Portuguese people and with our National Team."
"It was important to have finished these four games calmly, because the sporting aspect was what guided us. We will have time and peace of mind to all sit down and resolve what is a misunderstanding. I reiterate: Cristiano Ronaldo is part of our heritage and will always be here if the manager wants him."
Jorge Jesus confirmed that the door is open for Ronaldo to return: "I don't know what Cris can decide. What I have to say I've already said, but I'll add to it. For me, in the beginning it was never an issue. It was something I considered normal as a coach."
"Having a player with the symbolism he represents for the country and the national team... There are principles as a coach that are non-negotiable, but since there was nothing special in terms of my authority, for me, Cris will be a call-up player in the next squad, if he's playing for Al Nassr, if he wants to return to the national team."
"In my opinion, you can't demand, based on a one-year friendship, a situation that's hard to understand. Just because it was him, and perhaps rightly so because he's a symbol, this whole problem of him coming on, warming up, not coming on. How many players warmed up today and didn't come on? Will there be a problem? No."
"With Cris it's different, he's a symbol. But is it a problem? For me it wasn't a problem. If Cris wants to and is playing for Al Nassr, he'll be in the next squad. We talked before this squad and we can talk before the next one."
Lineups
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa, João Cancelo (Diogo Dalot 63’), Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha (Bernardo Silva 86’), João Palhinha (Rúben Neves 63’); Francisco Conceição, João Félix (Francisco Trincão 90+1’), Bruno Fernandes (Nuno Tavares 90+1’); Gonçalo Ramos
Unused subs: Rui Silva, Samuel Soares, Tomás Araújo, Gonçalo Inácio, João Neves, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão, Fábio Silva
Manager: Jorge Jesus
Norway (4-3-3): Egil Selvik; Fredrik Aursnes, Kristoffer Ajer, Leo Ostigard, David Moller Wolfe; Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Patrick Berg (Thelo Aasgaard 87’); Andreas Schjelderup, Erling Haaland (Jorgen Strand Larsen 67’), Antonio Nusa (Oscar Bobb 74’)
Unused subs: Orjan Nyland, Sander Tangvik, Marcus Pedersen, Sondre Langas, Odin Bjortuft, Kristian Thorstvedt, Ole Blomberg, Erik Botheim
Manager: Stale Solbakken
Goals:
[0-1] Kristoffer Ajer 36’
[1-1] João Cancelo 38’
[2-1] Gonçalo Ramos 79’
