Portugal 3 Switzerland 1: Ronaldo hat-trick puts hosts in Nations League final after incredible VAR drama
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S late double completed a stunning hat-trick as Portugal reached the Nations League final after sensational VAR drama. Switzerland had levelled with a penalty given on a video replay – which overturned a spot-kick to Portugal from an incident just seconds later. Ronaldo’s first dramatic intervention had sparked and finished off Portugal’s 25th minute […]
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S late double completed a stunning hat-trick as Portugal reached the Nations League final after sensational VAR drama.
Switzerland had levelled with a penalty given on a video replay – which overturned a spot-kick to Portugal from an incident just seconds later.
Ronaldo’s first dramatic intervention had sparked and finished off Portugal’s 25th minute opener.
Slightly fortunate to win a free-kick 25 yards out, he swerved it past the wall well enough but keeper Yann Sommer was strangely rooted as the ball fizzed into the net on his side of the goal.
Switzerland had most of the chances and possession in a tight first half, albeit Portugal passing neatly on the break.
And teenager Joao Felix, a reported target for both Manchester clubs, blazed a gaping chance wide just before the break, teed up by Ronaldo.
But all that went before was overshadowed early in a second period that Switzerland began busily.
Referee Felix Brych awarded a blatant penalty when Fabian Schar upended Bernardo Silva in front of goal – only to end up giving a spot-kick to Switzerland instead.
Brych went to VAR on the sidelines to trace play back at the other end – well before the Portugal “penalty” – to where Semedo had got the faintest of touches in the box on tumbling Swiss midfielder Steven Zuber.
To the shock and fury of Portugal players, Brych penalised Semeo.
That enabled Ricardo Rodriguez to rifle home a so-so spot-kick equaliser that went in under the diving body of Rui Patricio.
Switzerland continued to unsettle their more fancies hosts, Zuber drilling one volley wide.
But Ronaldo popped up on 88 minutes, flashing a right-footer on the turn just inside the near post.
and a minute later he struck last and best, cutting inside from a lightning break and curving the ball into the far corner.
