By Sachit Subba • INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL • Mar 21, 2025 03:01 AM • 148 views
Copenhagen – Rasmus Højlund came off the bench to steal the spotlight as Denmark edged Portugal 1-0 in a tightly contested first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals at a charged-up Parken Stadium on Thursday night.
The Atalanta forward broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, converting a clinical finish from a pinpoint delivery by Skov Olsen. Højlund's goal lit up the Danish capital and added a touch of drama as he celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic 'Siu' pose—an audacious nod to the Portuguese skipper himself.
Earlier in the match, Denmark squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead when veteran midfielder Christian Eriksen saw his 24th-minute penalty effort go begging, leaving the home crowd momentarily deflated.
For all their firepower, Portugal—led by Ronaldo and featuring star names like Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Bernardo Silva—struggled to unlock a resolute Danish backline and left the capital without an away goal.
The tie now shifts to Lisbon, where the second leg will be played on Sunday. With a semi-final berth hanging in the balance, the pressure is on the Seleção to overturn the deficit in front of their home fans. The winner of this showdown will face either Germany or Italy in what promises to be a blockbuster semi-final clash.
