Cristiano Ronaldo netted his third consecutive goal in the Nations League as Portugal secured a 3-1 victory over Poland on Saturday, keeping their perfect record intact.
Bernardo Silva and Ronaldo gave Portugal a 2-0 lead at halftime in Warsaw during the Group A1 match.
Piotr Zielinski scored for Poland late in the second half, but an own goal by Jan Bednarek dashed any hopes of a comeback.
“We worked very hard the last few days, preparing various solutions for this game, and we were able to show it on the pitch,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.
“I am really satisfied because we controlled this game.”
Portugal went ahead after 26 minutes. Ruben Neves lofted the ball into the area where Bruno Fernandes cushioned the ball down for Silva, winning his 96th cap, to score on the volley.
With Poland relying on the counter-attack, Portugal were rewarded further for their positive approach with a second goal 10 minutes later.
A steward runs to take a pitch invader away form taking selfies with Portugal’s forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo during the UEFA Nations League, League A Group A1 football match Poland vs Portugal at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland on October 12, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP)
Rafael Leao powered towards the box and unleashed a fierce drive which came back off the post.
Ronaldo was the quickest to react, finding the net from the rebound to register his 133rd international goal.
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It marked the 39-year-old’s third goal in three Nations League matches this season, following his strikes against Croatia and Scotland.
With Portugal in control, coach Martinez substituted Ronaldo and Leao shortly after the hour mark, bringing on Diogo Jota and Francisco Trincao.
Poland made things tense when Zielinski scored in the 78th minute, playing a slick one-two with substitute Kacper Urbanski before slotting the ball past Diogo Silva, Portugal’s goalkeeper.
However, Portugal regained their two-goal advantage in the 88th minute when Bednarek accidentally scored an own goal following a cross from Nuno Mendes.
“We played against one of the best teams in the world, full of great players,” said Zielinski.
“But we allowed them to do too much, especially in the first half.”
Portugal now face Scotland in Glasgow on Tuesday looking for a fourth win in four games in the tournament while Poland host Croatia.
