Cristiano Ronaldo fires Portugal into Nations League final
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring the winning goal with teammate Nuno Mendes, who assisted him during the match. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MUNICH - Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal fought back to beat Germany 2-1 on June 4 and reach the Nations League final.
Germany took the lead in the 48th minute, as Florian Wirtz headed in unmarked in the box, following a pinpoint lobbed pass from Joshua Kimmich.
However, Portugal turned the match around, first equalising through substitute Francisco Conceicao in the 63rd minute, before Ronaldo tapped in five minutes later to send the visitors into the final.
Spain and France will clash in the other semi-final on June 5 to decide who will face Portugal in the decider on June 8. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Locked In: Gabriel extends Arsenal stay as Gunners plot next title push
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 12, 2025 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes in action with PSV Eindhoven's Couhaib Driouech Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo REUTERS LONDON - Arsenal's Brazilian defensive rock Gabriel Magalhaes committed his future to the north London club until 2029 on Friday, extending a partnership that has become the cornerstone of manager Mikel Arteta's English Premier League title-chasing project. The 27-year-old centre back, whose existing deal ran until 2027, has proven indispensable since his 27 million pounds ($36.53 million) move from Lille in 2020, with the club's recent title challenge crumbling precisely when injury forced him to the sidelines. "I arrived here as a young player and after almost five years I've learned a lot," Gabriel said after putting pen to paper at Emirates Stadium. "I hope I win some trophies with this club, because I love this club and my family loves the club, too." Gabriel's partnership with William Saliba has blossomed into one of the Premier League's most formidable defensive pairings since 2022, providing the foundation for Arsenal's resurgence as title contenders. His aerial prowess has also made him a persistent threat from set-pieces. The Brazilian's true value to Arsenal became painfully apparent during the final two months of the 2024-25 campaign when a hamstring injury derailed the Gunners' charge. Without their defensive lynchpin, Arsenal's title challenge disintegrated, and Paris St Germain ended their Champions League dreams in the semi-finals. Gabriel's recommitment represents a significant boost for Arteta's squad building. "I'm so proud to sign a new contract," Gabriel added. "I love the supporters, my team-mates, I love this stadium. We continue together for the future." With 210 appearances already under his belt, Gabriel's extended stay suggests Arsenal's defensive foundation is now secured for their next chapter of trophy hunting. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Crusaders outmuscle Reds to reach Super Rugby semis
The Canterbury Crusaders kept intact their perfect home playoff record with a comfortable 32-12 victory over the Queensland Reds at a rain-soaked Christchurch Stadium on Friday to move into the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals. The 12-times champions battered the Reds physically in all areas of the game and scored five tries through Scott Barrett, Tamaiti Williams, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana and Kyle Preston to take their home playoff record to 30-0. The Reds never got their expansive attack going in the face of the home side's physicality and line speed and tries from Josh Nasser and Fraser McReight against a shorthanded defence in the last 10 minutes were mere consolations. All Blacks captain Barrett opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he knocked the ball out of McReight's hands at a Reds lineout on their own tryline and pounced to score. The visitors were being more frequently penalised and after scrumhalf Tate McDermott was pinged for an attempted jackal closing on the half hour mark, the Crusaders kicked for touch and set up a rolling maul. The Reds stopped the maul but the Crusaders forwards peeled off left with prop Williams burrowing over the line from close range for a converted try that gave his team a 12-0 lead. The Crusaders laid siege to the Reds line and although the Australians kept them out, the repeated tackles were bound to have an impact later in the game. The next score came in the 56th minute through a fine individual try from scrumhalf Hotham, who kicked the ball ahead out of a tackle and raced 30 metres to gather it and touch down. Flyhalf Rivez Reihana added the extras, kicked a 40-metre penalty to stretch the lead to 22-0 on the hour mark before adding the fourth try from close range. "I think the way our forwards stepped up was huge, and the set piece went really well so we're really happy with that," said Crusaders captain David Havili. Crusaders flanker Ethan Blackadder marred an otherwise brilliant performance with a yellow card for a high tackle 11 minutes from time, allowing the Reds to take advantage of the extra man and score twice. "You've got to give credit to the Crusaders," said Reds co-captain McDermott. "They were all over us at the breakdown and the collision area, and we just couldn't get into our cycle." The other three semi-finals spots will be decided on Saturday when the top-seeded Waikato Chiefs take on the reigning champion Auckland Blues and the ACT Brumbies host the Wellington Hurricanes. The losing team from the three matches with the highest finish in the regular season standings also progress to the last four. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Australia's Starc comfortable with IPL pullout regardless of repercussion
MELBOURNE - Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is comfortable with his decision to leave the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the India-Pakistan clashes last month regardless of any repercussions, the 35-year-old said. The IPL was suspended on May 9 in the wake of hostilities between the two. It resumed on May 17 after the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire. While most IPL foreign recruits returned to complete their franchise commitment, the Delhi Capitals duo of Starc and fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk took no further part in the 10-team league. "I'm comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled," Starc told the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday. "Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn't return. But I've had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision." Starc was in Dharamsala, near the Pakistan border, for Delhi's May 9 match against the Punjab Kings. The contest was abandoned midway through, although league organisers blamed it on a floodlights failure. "Jake and I chose not to (return). So it was a very individual decision, and I'm happy to live with whatever comes of that," Starc said. He opted out of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan earlier this year citing personal reasons and has skipped the IPL more than once to preserve himself for international cricket. The left-arm quick said he withdrew from the remainder of the IPL because of the extraordinary circumstances. "I'm still heavily committed to the Delhi group, and I'm not someone that's gone into tournaments and pulled out after being picked up in an auction or whatever that looks like," Starc said. "These are different circumstances ... I had a discussion back home then came to a decision, and whatever comes from that I'm comfortable with that and we move forward." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
