Ramos fires holders Portugal to 2-1 Nations League win in Norway

Goncalo Ramos starts successful spot of Cristiano Ronaldo and scores the victor for Portugal successful Oslo.

Goncalo Ramos started successful spot of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the victor arsenic Portugal made it back-to-back victories to commencement their UEFA Nations League rubric defence by beating Norway 2-1 successful Oslo connected Sunday.

Jorge Jesus’s men person responded good to their tame World Cup last-16 nonaccomplishment to Spain, having besides beaten Wales 1-0 successful Group A4 connected Thursday.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo was named among the substitutes for the archetypal clip for Portugal since a Nations League crippled against Scotland successful September 2024, and did not get onto the transportation arsenic Jesus looks to negociate his minutes crossed an expanded planetary break.

World Cup quarter-finalists Norway were near to rue immoderate wasteful finishing successful beforehand of extremity arsenic they failed to physique connected their opening 3-2 triumph implicit Denmark.

The archetypal large accidental fell to Erling Haaland, but the Manchester City striker mishit his attempted volley aft being picked retired by Martin Odegaard, and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was capable to marque the save.

The distant squad rapidly made Haaland wage arsenic Joao Felix stroked a good decorativeness into the bottommost country from the borderline of the container successful the 17th minute.

Haaland looked definite to equalise soon afterwards erstwhile Costa spilled the shot into his path, but helium was denied by a superb artifact from his City teammate Ruben Dias.

The Norway talisman was foiled by Costa again 10 minutes earlier half-time arsenic the goalkeeper made an fantabulous halt from his downward header.

Haaland yet converted six minutes into the 2nd half, tapping successful from Patrick Berg’s header crossed goal.

But Norway gave backmost the pb instantly to their opponents, arsenic goalkeeper Orjan Nyland passed the shot consecutive to Ramos, who coolly chipped it into the net.

Rafael Leao had a changeable deflected onto the crossbar arsenic Portugal pushed to marque the crippled safe.

Nyland had his blushes spared erstwhile a VAR reappraisal ruled retired different opportunistic Ramos effort for the tightest of offsides.

The goalkeeper waited for a agelong walk implicit the apical to scope him, past took a swipe astatine bladed aerial arsenic Ramos got to the shot earlier him and rolled it into an bare net.

Norway threw everyone forward, including Nyland, successful the closing stages, but could not find different leveller.

Ramos told Sport TV that it was an important triumph against a pugnacious Norway side.

“It’s a large triumph connected a hard distant trip. It’s been a large commencement [for caller brag Jorge Jesus]. We’re moving unneurotic and taking the manager’s ideas connected committee well,” helium said.

“From present on, it’s each astir improving and ironing retired the kinks. We privation to triumph each game. We’re ever focused connected triumph successful each match.”