Munich witnessed a historic night as Portugal defeated Germany 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League semi-final, securing their place in the final. Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name further into the record books by scoring the decisive goal, sending Portugal to their second Nations League final in the tournament's short history. The match, held at the Allianz Arena, was a hard-fought battle that saw Portugal overcome an early deficit to claim a memorable victory.
The game began with both teams displaying attacking intent, but neither side could break the deadlock in the first half. Germany, playing on home soil, came out strong after the restart, and Florian Wirtz headed in a cross from Kimmich in the 48th minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The goal ignited the match, prompting Portugal coach Roberto Martinez to make strategic substitutions, bringing on Vitinha, Conceicao, and Semedo to inject fresh energy into the team.
The changes proved to be inspired, as Francisco Conceicao, making an immediate impact, scored a stunning goal in the 63rd minute. Conceicao ran 35 meters before unleashing a brilliant curler into the left-hand side of the goal, leveling the score and injecting new life into the Portuguese attack.
The equalizer shifted the momentum, and Portugal seized the opportunity to take the lead just five minutes later. A swift counter-attack saw Nuno Mendes deliver a precise pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, who tapped the ball in from close range, sending the Portuguese fans into raptures. This goal marked Ronaldo's record-extending 137th international goal and sealed Portugal's first win against Germany in 25 years. It was also sweet revenge for Ronaldo, who had previously endured a frustrating run of five losses against the German side.
Germany tried to respond, but Portugal's defense held firm, denying the hosts any clear-cut chances. Portugal maintained their lead and secured their place in the Nations League final. Portugal, who won the inaugural Nations League in 2019, will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Spain and France. The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday at the same venue.
Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva praised Ronaldo's unwavering hunger to win, stating, "It's never easy – I don't know how old he is, I think he's like 40 – to still be hungry to go on every day. We're very happy to have him with us."
For Germany, the defeat was a setback after a strong run of form. Coach Julian Nagelsmann acknowledged his team's shortcomings, saying, "It was a deserved defeat. We gave the game away in the first half. Defensively we lacked the ruthlessness that we've had recently."
