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Ronaldo’s 137th goal for his country helped Portugal upset Germany 2-1, breaking the Seleção’s run of five straight head-to-head losses and guaranteeing their place in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) final.
With kickoff delayed by 10 minutes due to a storm in Munich, both teams were ready to stamp their dominance early on.
Leon Goretzka directed a low effort straight at Diogo Costa after a clever cut-back by Joshua Kimmich, while at the other end, Ronaldo saw a sharp strike comfortably held by Marc-André ter Stegen.
Having gone three consecutive away games without victory (D2, L1), Roberto Martínez’s side lacked confidence and struggled to create anything of note in the final third, as the scores remained level at the break.
The second period began with the Mannschaft upping the ante, and their efforts were suitably rewarded with a goal in the 48th minute.
Kimmich’s lofted delivery into the box fell perfectly for Wirtz, and the seemingly Liverpool-bound playmaker held his nerve to direct a clinical header into the bottom corner.
Relentlessly, Portugal rallied and equalised just after the hour, with substitute Francisco Conceição eluding Robin Gosens and then moving to the edge of the box to curl a spectacular shot into the top corner.
That goal completely shifted the momentum inside the Allianz Arena, and the Seleção completed their turnaround just five minutes later, as Nuno Mendes broke through the German backline and set up Ronaldo for a simple close-range finish.
Stunned by the visitors’ quickfire double, Germany went in pursuit of a response with time ticking into the final quarter-hour but in the end it was too little too late.
