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.



England's Ali Retires from International Cricket at 37

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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England's Ali Retires from International Cricket at 37

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

England allrounder Moeen Ali has retired from international cricket at age 37, the player told the Daily Mail in an interview published on Saturday.

The Birmingham-born left-handed batter and right-arm spinner has played in 68 tests, 138 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 92 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for England since 2014, with his last international appearance in June.

"I'm 37 years old and didn't get picked for this month's Australia series," Ali said.

"I've played a lot of cricket for England. It's time for the next generation, which was also explained to me. It felt the time was right. I've done my part."

The first Asian-origin cricketer to captain England in T20Is, Ali has scored five centuries in tests and three in ODIs, also taking 366 wickets across all three formats. He was in the squad when England won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, according to Reuters.

Ali, who holds the England record for the fastest half-century in T20Is having reached fifty in 16 balls against South Africa in 2022, said he was proud of his international career.

"When you first play for England, you don't know how many games you are going to play. So to play nearly 300 ... I know they were the best days of my life," Ali said.

Ali said he planned to keep playing in franchise cricket and take up coaching in the future.

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"I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won't," he added.

"Even retiring, I don't feel it's because I'm not good enough ... but I get how things are, and the team needs to evolve into another cycle. It's about being real to myself."