Manchester United striker Rasmus Højlund continued his fine form by scoring Denmark’s winner against Portugal in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg, following up on his recent goal in United’s victory over Leicester City.
Højlund’s Decisive Moment
The Red Devils' No.9 was introduced in the 69th minute but made an instant impact in Copenhagen, netting the only goal of the match. Andreas Skov Olsen delivered a precise cross, and Højlund applied a composed finish, celebrating with the famous ‘Siuu’ gesture—Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic celebration—as the Portuguese legend watched on.
After the match, the Man United striker clarified his tribute:
"It’s for my idol. It wasn’t to mock him or anything. He has had a huge impact on me and my football career. I remember watching him score from a free-kick in 2011, and since then, I’ve been a huge Cristiano fan."
Portugal’s Missed Opportunities
Despite boasting stars like Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal couldn’t find the net. Christian Eriksen had a chance to double Denmark’s lead from the penalty spot, but Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved his attempt, seemingly after receiving words of advice from Ronaldo.
Dalot was also instrumental in denying his Manchester United teammate Eriksen, clearing his shot off the line to keep Portugal in the tie.
Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes, who captained the side, expressed frustration over the result:
"We knew Denmark would be aggressive. We needed to be stronger in the duels. We have a tough game ahead, but with our fans at home, we believe we can turn it around."
Elsewhere in the UEFA Nations League
- Netherlands 2-2 Spain - Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders overturned an early goal from Nico Williams, before Mikel Merino rescued a late equalizer for Spain.
- Man United’s Matthijs de Ligt came on in the final minutes as 10-man Netherlands held on.
The second leg fixtures are set for Sunday, with Portugal looking to overturn the deficit at home in Lisbon, and Spain hosting the Netherlands at Mestalla Stadium.
