Portugal sit alone at the top of Nations League Group A4 this morning after a 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo that ended the home side's near three-year unbeaten run at Ullevaal Stadion.
João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos scored the goals that gave Portugal six points from two matches under new manager Jorge Jesus. The win came without Cristiano Ronaldo, who remained on the bench throughout a competitive international for the first time in 18 years.
Quick strikes decide tight contest
Félix opened the scoring on 17 minutes, collecting a pass from Pedro Neto at the edge of the area and finishing with his first touch. It was his second goal in two games, following his winner against Wales last Thursday.
Erling Haaland pulled Norway level nine minutes into the second half, heading in from close range to take his international record to 65 goals in 57 appearances. The equaliser stood for barely three minutes.
Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland attempted to play out from the back but passed straight to Gonçalo Ramos, who chipped the ball over him to restore Portugal's lead on 54 minutes. The AC Milan forward had a second goal disallowed for offside shortly afterwards.
Jesus defends Ronaldo decision
Jorge Jesus said afterwards that he had intended to introduce Ronaldo for around 30 minutes, but the flow of the match changed those plans. The Portugal manager told Sport TV and RTP that the 41-year-old, who played nearly 70 minutes against Wales, simply could not start two games in quick succession.
"It was a tactical decision," Jesus said. "I needed a player with different characteristics."
Gonçalo Ramos started in Ronaldo's place, and his pressing disrupted Norway's build-up play throughout. The Algarve-born forward's willingness to chase lost causes created the error that led to the winning goal.
Norway press but fall short
Statistics from VG Live gave Norway an xG (expected goals) of 2.72 to Portugal's 1.03, with 22 shots to the visitors' 12. Haaland alone contributed 1.69 xG. But Diogo Costa made several important saves, and the central defensive pairing of Rúben Dias and his partner did not commit a single significant error, according to the match assessment.
Norway had not lost at home in 14 matches. The last visiting team to win in Oslo before Sunday had done so almost three years earlier.
Group takes shape
Denmark's 2-0 win over Wales earlier in the day meant Portugal kicked off knowing only victory would secure top spot. The Danes, who face Portugal in Copenhagen on Thursday, sit level with Norway on three points. Wales remain pointless.
Around 700 Portugal supporters celebrated in the stands after the final whistle. Portugal and Norway meet again on 4 October at Estádio do Dragão in Porto.
French referee François Letexier issued several yellow cards over the course of a match that tested both defences. The VAR system correctly ruled out Ramos's second goal for a marginal offside.
Portugal are the current holders of the Nations League trophy. Two wins from two under Jesus represents an ideal start to their defence.
