Cristiano Ronaldo Nico Williams Dani Carvajal Michael Obafemi Shayne Lavery John Egan Robbie Brady Croatia Netherlands Spain Portugal Italy Cyprus Ireland Dublin Greece Armenia Kosovo Boxing Cristiano Ronaldo Nico Williams Dani Carvajal Michael Obafemi Shayne Lavery John Egan Robbie Brady Croatia Netherlands Spain Portugal Italy Cyprus Ireland Dublin Greece Armenia Kosovo

Nations League: Spain snatch finals spot from Portugal, Ireland avert humiliation

theguardian.com

Spain snatched a place in the Nations League final four after Álvaro Morata’s late goal secured a 1-0 win over Portugal in Braga to ensure top spot in their group.

Portugal had dominated the match but Spain stayed in the contest and in the 88th minute a long ball into the box from Dani Carvajal was headed by Nico Williams across to Morata, who lashed it into the net to silence most of the sold-out stadium.

Portugal had a late chance to earn the point they needed but Cristiano Ronaldo missed from close range to extend his scoreless streak with the national team to three matches.

Spain had not won in Portugal in nearly two decades, since a friendly in 2003, and this was their first competitive away victory against their neighbours since a 2-1 World Cup qualifying triumph in 1934.

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Alvaro Morata's late strike snatched Spain a 1-0 Nations League victory over Portugal in Braga on Tuesday and sent them into the semi-finals. La Roja needed to win to finish top of League A Group 2, but struggled on another difficult night for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists, until Morata's 88th-minute breakthrough. Spain have not been able to hit top form in the internationals leading up to the Qatar 2022 World Cup, but this hard-fought victory provides a welcome morale boost.
Alvaro Morata said Spain's never-say-die attitude was the key to victory on Tuesday night after the Atletico Madrid striker scored the only goal of the game against Portugal to send his team into the Nations League semi-finals.
Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, needed just a point in Braga to finish top of Group A2 but dropped to second as Morata tapped in Nico Williams' header on 88 minutes. "When we had to stand up, we did," Morata told TVE. "If we had lost, it had to be giving everything we had on the pitch, and that's what we did." Spain join the Netherlands, Italy and Croatia in the finals which are scheduled for June next year.
BRAGA, Portugal :Spain snatched a place in the Nations League final four after striker Alvaro Morata's late goal secured a 1-0 win over hosts Portugal on Tuesday to ensure top spot in their group.
BRAGA, PORTUGAL: Alvaro Morata’s late strike snatched Spain a 1-0 Nations League victory over Portugal in Braga on Tuesday and sent them into the semifinals.

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