Portugal secure place in Nations League quarter-finals

Oct 4 : Title holders Portugal maintained their 100 per cent record in the Nations League with a 2-1 home win over Norway on Sunday to seal a place in the March quarter-finals and shift the focus further away from Cristiano Ronaldo's abrupt exit from the squad last week.

Goncalo Ramos netted 11 minutes from time to ensure Portugal secured a top-two finish in Group A4 as they moved six points ahead of second-placed Denmark, who won 1-0 at Wales.

The Netherlands took over at the top of Group A2, after beating Serbia 2-1 in Eindhoven, but only on goal difference from Greece, who held on grimly for a goalless draw at home to Germany in Thessaloniki.

Portugal were still under a cloud from Ronaldo’s dispute with coach Jorge Jesus, although they were triumphant without him in Denmark last Thursday after he walked out on the squad, and continued their winning ways in Porto on Sunday.

Norway took the lead in the 36th minute from centre-back Kristoffer Ajer, who hit a dipping half-volley from the edge of the box. But if that effort was sumptuous, Joao Cancelo’s thrashing effort to equalise two minutes later was even more awe-inspiring.

Ramos’ winner came off his calf after Joao Felix had headed across goal for him to score.

“You need a lot of technical quality to beat Norway," said the Portugal coach.

"We won without putting in a performance like the one against Denmark, but the important thing was the victory and qualification. I had a lot of belief in this team, but perhaps I didn’t expect us to have four wins from our first four games,” Jorge Jesus added.

RED CARD SOURS PORTUGAL'S WIN

Portugal’s win was soured by a red card for Francisco Conceicao four minutes from time. He gave the referee a cynical thumbs up after receiving a yellow