Portugal staged a thrilling second-half comeback to defeat Germany 2-1 in Munich, securing a place in the UEFA Nations League final for the second time in their history.
The match, played at the Allianz Arena, saw Germany take the lead just three minutes after halftime through Florian Wirtz, who headed home a delicate lofted assist from Joshua Kimmich, making his 100th international appearance.
Wirtz, who has been strongly linked with a £109 million move to Liverpool, looked to have put the hosts in control.
However, Portugal protested the goal, arguing that German debutant Nick Woltemade had obstructed Ruben Dias in the buildup. After a brief VAR check, the goal was allowed to stand despite being controversial.
Portugal’s Response: Conceição and Ronaldo Seal the Turnaround
Portugal’s manager responded quickly with attacking substitutions, and in the 63rd minute, Francisco Conceição made an instant impact. The Porto winger, just five minutes after coming on, beat his marker near the right touchline and curled a superb left-footed finish past Marc-André ter Stegen.
Momentum swung fully in Portugal’s favor in the 68th minute, when Nuno Mendes burst down the left flank and squared the ball to a waiting Cristiano Ronaldo, who calmly tapped in from close range. The goal marked another clutch moment for the 39-year-old forward, reinforcing his continued importance to the national team.
Germany Denied Late Equaliser
Despite intense pressure from Germany in the final minutes, including a Karim Adeyemi shot that struck the post, Portugal held firm to book their place in Sunday’s final.
They will face the winner of France vs Spain, who play in the other semi-final on Thursday in Stuttgart.
Match Summary
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Final Score: Germany 1-2 Portugal
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Goals:
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Florian Wirtz (48’) – Germany
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Francisco Conceição (63’) – Portugal
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Cristiano Ronaldo (68’) – Portugal
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What’s Next?
Portugal will return to Munich on Sunday for the final, aiming to capture their second UEFA Nations League title after winning the inaugural edition in 2019.
