Ronaldo Strikes Late to Seal Portugal Win Over Scotland

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (C) scored the winner against Scotland - AFP
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (C) scored the winner against Scotland - AFP
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Ronaldo Strikes Late to Seal Portugal Win Over Scotland

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (C) scored the winner against Scotland - AFP
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (C) scored the winner against Scotland - AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo's late strike sealed Portugal's 2-1 win over Scotland as the 901st goal of the striker's extraordinary career completed a stirring fightback in Sunday's Nations League clash.

Ronaldo had reached 900 career goals with his 131st international strike in Thursday's victory over Croatia.

On his 30th birthday, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal's second half equaliser after his former Old Trafford team-mate Scott McTominay gave Scotland a surprise early lead.

For Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, victory over Scotland could mean some awkward silences at his next family gathering.

Martinez met his wife Beth while playing for Scottish club Motherwell in 2001 and joked before the match he would be delighted to upset his father-in-law by beating Scotland.

He did exactly that, leaving Scotland still waiting for their first win over Portugal.

Beaten 3-2 by Poland at Hampden Park on Thursday, Scotland have won just once in 14 matches, a barren sequence that included their lacklustre failure to make it out of the group stage at Euro 2024.

Steve Clarke's men have lost six of their nine matches in 2024, with their only victory coming in a friendly against Gibraltar in June.

"When you bring quality players from the bench like Roberto can do you always know there's a risk," AFP quoted Clarke saying.

"I'm really disappointed for my players because I think they deserved to get something from the game.

"But with the amount of balls that go into the box, you know one of them can go in the back of the net and that's what happened to us."

Scotland took a shock lead in the seventh minute when Kenny McLean's superb cross picked out McTominay, who made a perfectly-timed run to plant his stooping header past Diogo Costa from six yards.

McTominay, who recently moved from United to Napoli, has 10 goals in his last 12 competitive appearances for Scotland.

Rafael Leao threatened an immediate equaliser with a driving run but his shot rippled into the side-netting.

Leao went even closer as he cut in from the left flank for a fierce drive that Angus Gunn pushed away at full stretch.

Antonio Silva wasted a chance created by Leao as he headed over from the AC Milan forward's dinked cross.

As the Portugal pressure mounted, Gunn made a fine save after Diogo Jota connected with Fernandes's incisive pass.

It was no surprise to see Ronaldo sent on for the second half and Portugal were immediately improved by his presence.

Taking aim from long-range in the 53rd minute, Fernandes's 25-yard blast should have been routine for Gunn but his weak attempted save allowed the ball to squirm into the net.

Ronaldo's audacious backheel gave Joao Felix a sight of goal, only for Gunn to make amends for his earlier error with an excellent stop.

Gunn saved again from Felix's diving header before Ronaldo turned the rebound against the post.

In the next attack, Ronaldo's glancing header hit the post and was clawed off the line by Gunn before Felix could convert.

Portugal's late surge finally produced the winner in the 88th minute.

Nuno Mendes whipped a cross into the six-yard box, where Ronaldo was lurking to deliver the knockout blow with a typically predatory tap-in.



Neymar Has Two Months to Show He Is Ready for World Cup, Says Ancelotti

Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Neymar Has Two Months to Show He Is Ready for World Cup, Says Ancelotti

Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti ‌has left open the possibility of Neymar earning a place in his 26-man squad for this year’s World Cup, saying the forward has two months to prove he has the required qualities.

Ancelotti has consistently maintained that Neymar will be in contention if he is fully fit, but the attacker was excluded from Brazil’s squad for last month’s warm-up matches against France and Croatia.

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with ‌79 goals, ‌has not played for the national ‌team ⁠since suffering a ⁠serious knee injury in October 2023 and has struggled to maintain a consistent run of matches since returning to Santos last year. Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to France in Boston prompted fans to chant Neymar’s name but Ancelotti dismissed the reaction at the ⁠time, saying attention should focus on the ‌players selected.

Now, however, the ‌Italian has suggested that the Santos forward remains part of ‌his thinking as Brazil assess their options ahead ‌of the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 in North America and Mexico.

"He's a great talent, and it's normal that people think he can ‌help us win the next World Cup," Ancelotti said in an interview with ⁠French newspaper ⁠L'Equipe.

"He's currently being evaluated by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) , by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup.

"After his knee injury, Neymar has made a good comeback; he's scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He's on the right track."

Brazil are in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in the World Cup and will begin their campaign on June 13 at New Jersey Stadium.


Carrick Buoyed up by Mount’s Return as Champions League Push Resumes Against Leeds

15 March 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford. (dpa)
15 March 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford. (dpa)
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Carrick Buoyed up by Mount’s Return as Champions League Push Resumes Against Leeds

15 March 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford. (dpa)
15 March 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford. (dpa)

Manchester United return to action on ‌Monday with renewed optimism after interim manager Michael Carrick welcomed Mason Mount back to fitness and saw Lisandro Martinez return to training ahead of their Premier League clash with Leeds United.

Carrick's men have not played for more than three weeks since a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, but resume their campaign sitting third in the table and looking to strengthen their grip on a Champions League place, buoyed up by improving squad availability as the season heads into a crucial phase.

Mount has played sparingly due to injury, and was on the pitch for just a minute of the Bournemouth draw,

"It's great to have Mason back, ‌to miss him ‌so quickly after we came in and came together," ‌Carrick ⁠told reporters on ⁠Saturday.

"He's obviously had nearly two or three weeks of building up and finding his rhythm, finding his sharpness. I think his versatility, is a big strength of his. He can play through the middle, he can play midfield, he can play wide and he can do so many different roles.

"We've just got to give him the time to get fit again and be patient with that ⁠but he's certainly in a good place right now."

Carrick ‌was undecided on the status of Martinez, ‌who has not played since suffering a calf injury in early February.

"It's just that call ‌that we make," he said. "We wouldn't be pushed into anything.

"He's back training, ‌which is great, and back on the grass. But we've certainly got to make the right decision and make sure he's ready."

United are third on 55 points, one point ahead of fourth-placed Aston Villa, but six ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool.

Carrick has overseen ‌a spectacular run since taking charge in January, guiding United to 23 points from a possible 30 and restoring ⁠calm after a ⁠turbulent first half of the season.

With just weeks remaining and the race for the five Champions League places tightening, United know there is little room for complacency.

Monday's match also reignites one of English football's fiercest rivalries, with Carrick keen for his players to embrace the occasion.

"It's gone on for an awful long time," Carrick said. "I think that's what rivalries are there for, for a really good reason, I think, to be part of, and the intensity and the emotion and the passion that goes into it.

"Obviously, it's got to keep within the margins but I think that's part of the game we love, going up against other teams... and battling it out on the pitch. So I think it's something that we've got to embrace."


Sinner Brushes Past Zverev to Reach Monte Carlo Final

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during his semi final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 11 April 2026. (EPA)
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during his semi final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 11 April 2026. (EPA)
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Sinner Brushes Past Zverev to Reach Monte Carlo Final

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during his semi final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 11 April 2026. (EPA)
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during his semi final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 11 April 2026. (EPA)

World No.2 Jannik Sinner eased his way into the final of the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time with a clinical 6-1, 6-4 semi-final win over Alexander Zverev on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Italian becomes the first player to reach all three finals of the season's first three Masters 1000 events since Novak Djokovic in 2015.

Roger Federer, in 2006, and Rafael Nadal, 2011, are the only two other players to achieve the feat.

"I'm very happy," said Sinner.

"We came here trying to give myself some feedback [on clay] and now finding myself in the final means a lot to me."

Sinner said he had felt in top form right from the outset of the match against his German opponent, ranked third in the world.

"Obviously every match, every day is different, so I'm very happy about today's performance. I felt really solid from the beginning.

"When you are a break up straight away, it changes the dynamic of the match, so very happy and let's see what's coming in the final."

Sinner will face either world No.1 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or local boy Valentin Vacherot, ranked 23 in the world, who meet later on Saturday.

If it is Alcaraz, it will be the first meeting this season between the world's top two players which would decide who will be world No.1 come Monday when the new ATP rankings are released.

As in Indian Wells and Miami, Sinner, 24, had the measure of Zverev who has not prevailed in their meetings since the round of 16 at the US Open in September 2023.

Extremely aggressive from the start, Sinner blew the German away in the opening set, breaking him three times and wrapping it up in 34 minutes.

In the second set, the German put up more resistance, finding his first serve again, but he still had to battle every time to hold.

He finally folded after 1hr 22min on another blistering forehand from Sinner, who has lost only one set in his last 21 matches at Masters 1000 events.