ADVERTISEMENT
Cristiano Ronaldo scoreless in UEFA Nations League; Croatia avoids demotionOne of Ronaldo's best chances to move closer to the all-time international record was a first-time header that missed wide
AP
Last Updated IST
Portugal's midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo (L) greets Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric at the end of the UEFA Nations League A Group 3 football match between Croatia and Portugal. Credit: AFP Photo
Portugal's midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo (L) greets Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric at the end of the UEFA Nations League A Group 3 football match between Croatia and Portugal. Credit: AFP Photo

Croatia avoided relegation in Group 3 of UEFA's Nations League despite a 3-2 loss to defending champion Portugal.

Croatia on Tuesday needed to better the result of Sweden, which lost 4-2 to group-winner France in the other match. Portugal was already eliminated and had secured second place.

Croatia played with 10 men from early in the second half after one of its midfielders was sent off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless for the second consecutive match to stay seven goals shy of the 109 scored by former Iran striker Ali Daei, the only other male soccer player to surpass the 100-goal milestone for a national team.

One of Ronaldo's best chances to move closer to the all-time international record was a first-time header that missed wide.

Mateo Kovacic opened the scoring for the hosts in the 29th minute and netted an equaliser with a shot from outside the area in the 65th after Portugal had rallied with goals by Rubén Dias in the 52nd and João Félix in the 60th. Dias netted the winner in the 90th.

Croatia midfielder Marko Rog was sent off with a second yellow card for a foul on Ronaldo just before Portugal's second goal.

Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks

ADVERTISEMENT
Read more
(Published 18 November 2020, 09:58 IST)