00:05The Estadio de Luz, the Stadium of Light, the original Stadium of Light.
00:10Two sets of players come out for the start of this latest edition of the Nations League,
00:18a slightly re-jigged Nations League.
00:22It's been a successful tournament though, the idea is to reduce the number of friendlies
00:27that were Cristiano Ronaldo singing the anthem for the 213th time.
00:32He's 39, he scored 4-4 this season for Al Nassar.
00:35There are three changes from their losing quarterfinal at the Euros.
00:39Pepe's retired, Gonzalo Inacio of Sporting Club replaces him in the centre of defence.
00:44Thiago Dallo is the right-back with João Cancelo left out of the squad.
00:48And the chip looks more attacking with Pedro Neto, now of Chelsea,
00:51playing instead of João Pallinha, now of Bayern Munich.
00:56And Mr. Umut Melo gets us underway.
01:01Modric again.
01:02Inacio to PSG's Jimmendez.
01:06A hum of anticipation.
01:09And the great Ronaldo gets on the ball, Rafa Leão crosses it into the penalty area.
01:14Portugal win it on the edge of the box, and it's a terrific effort
01:17and it's superbly saved by Livakovic.
01:24Bruno Fernandes again finds himself a little pocket of space,
01:27and it goes forward, and a chance, and a goal.
01:31Diogo Dallo, what a start from Portugal to this Nations League campaign.
01:41Fluid attacking play that had Croatia bamboozled.
01:46And it's the nominal right-back, Dallo,
01:49popping up in the centre-forward position
01:51and finishing like a deadly striker.
01:55Well, there was movement coming from everywhere,
01:57players making runs.
01:58That's brilliantly taken as well by Dallo.
02:03In order to get that understanding,
02:06to be able to work,
02:08complicated passages of play,
02:12momentarily, if the ball had gone into him quickly.
02:14Bounces up off Ronaldo.
02:19That's the ball five yards,
02:20as it puts his cross-portable break.
02:23Now, on the onside here,
02:26the forekeeper hesitated there, Livakovic.
02:31It goes short to Baturina,
02:33and Modric again.
02:35It's a dangerous-looking cross,
02:36but it's just over everybody.
02:39Relief around the Manchester City man Gavardio.
02:45And then the effort.
02:47What an effort it was as well from Modric.
02:50Absolutely whipped his shot in.
02:54Wrapped his boot around it.
02:56I think it's great.
02:59And then the long-range shot
03:01comes from Gavardio.
03:03It's got five times last season.
03:05He's enjoying it, basically.
03:07Interpreted as being a bit of assault.
03:11Free kick.
03:12One by Ronaldo.
03:16Target's in there.
03:20It's Neto who puts it in.
03:23Ronaldo was leaping.
03:24It was well-cleared, though.
03:26And then Barana Silva's cross.
03:28And the Croatia number four.
03:30Now into the penalty area.
03:32Ronaldo takes it on.
03:33And it's denied by Livakovic.
03:35And the stadium held its breath there.
03:38They are desperate for this goal.
03:41Number 900 to be scored on Portuguese turf.
03:47Good effort.
03:49Hard and low.
03:50Looking for the near post.
03:52That low, for example, of Ajax.
03:54Here's Bruno Fernandes.
03:55And he has a go from long-range as well.
03:59Gavardio wiggles his way into the penalty area.
04:02Terrific play.
04:06But it's a young man.
04:07He was a midfielder.
04:11It's Kramaric with a twist and a turn and a shot that's dragged wide.
04:19Gavardio wiggles his way into the penalty area.
04:22Lay out.
04:32The outswing is straight into the penalty area.
04:34And it comes out to Kramaric.
04:37Of course, as you could say, from Costa.
04:46Game exposure and a Chelsea shirt.
04:49Yes.
04:50Here's Nuno Mendes.
04:51And he whips that one in.
04:52Looking for Ronaldo.
04:56Goal number 900 for club and country.
05:01Comes on Portuguese soil.
05:04And the tears flow.
05:11Well, the Lisbon crowd have been desperate for that moment.
05:15Everything that he's done, they've cheered.
05:20And a man with a 21-year international career.
05:2721 years and counting.
05:30Bags his 131st goal for his country.
05:36Kramaric.
05:37Now it comes back to Pasalic.
05:39Who hoists it up towards the back.
05:42Takes it down and leaves it there.
05:44And they've worked this beautifully.
05:46Nuno Mendes into the penalty area.
05:49Patrina's there.
05:50Kramaric goes at the load.
05:51And it's turned into his own net.
05:53And they're back in this game.
05:56It's Dalo, who scored at one end, has put that into his own net as well.
06:02Diogo Dalo at both ends.
06:04And before half-time, we've had three goals.
06:07Croatia are back in it.
06:12And Brinit's got to go to Sosa.
06:14We'll check the offside on him.
06:17They're a court napkin there.
06:19Croatia.
06:20And Pedro Neto drives on.
06:22Can he go it alone?
06:23How far can Pedro Neto go?
06:25So unlucky.
06:28Well, he won the ball.
06:30Nothing else was there for him, really.
06:32He was too fast.
06:38Time is up.
06:39And Portugal are arguing today.
06:41Sotalo clips it through the middle for the run of Pasalic.
06:45He does get there.
06:46And who did that come off of that after game?
06:51Floated into that near post.
06:53And it was...
06:55Cristiano Ronaldo.
06:59Nuno Mendes.
07:00And Ronaldo slips it back again.
07:02Mendes with the ball across.
07:04And it's a sliding clearance by the half-time.
07:09A little purr of anticipation when Cristiano Ronaldo gets on the ball.
07:13You get it right?
07:15Neves through Canuno Mendes.
07:17And Ronaldo pulled the trigger.
07:19And a nice touch of Celeta Sarr.
07:24And a collision as well.
07:31Royce will win it back.
07:32Modric is fouled by Bruno Fernandes.
07:39And Ronaldo has got a little bit of room here.
07:41He ran away from him.
07:43And he tried to set up the shot for Bruno.
07:47There's no foul here.
07:49Cristiano Ronaldo has it.
07:51And then the shot by Bruno Mendes.
07:53And saved two-handed by Livakovic.
07:59And the referee takes the opportunity.
08:04To gamble that.
08:05They've played it around the penalty area.
08:08Dallo looking for Bruno Fernandes.
08:10His touch was good.
08:12Decided not to shoot first time.
08:14He brings it back to Bernardo Silva.
08:16Oh, what a save.
08:17Ronaldo denied.
08:18And then the flag goes up.
08:21On the attack, Gramerich.
08:23And it comes back to...
08:27It's a good list of...
08:32And then the long-range shot by Bruno Fernandes.
08:35Watched all the way by Livakovic.
08:38Game against Japan.
08:41Nicely worked again.
08:42And they go through the middle.
08:43And a chance for the equaliser.
08:45It's passing it.
08:48They work it well.
08:49Bruno Mendes away.
08:51Down the left side here.
08:55Citalo goes across.
08:57Getting in ball.
08:59Now Ronaldo.
09:00Has to go on the outside.
09:02And goes down in the penalty area.
09:05That's...
09:06It's outside again.
09:09More reckless challenge.
09:12Now Vittinia.
09:13Caught from behind.
09:16Modric goes charging over.
09:18And he gets a yellow card.
09:20The rules are that the captain is allowed.
09:23The side of the wall.
09:27Familiar pose.
09:28It's Ronaldo.
09:33Tipped into the middle.
09:35And it did finish with the shot.
10:01And it's a corner.
10:07Never scored for his country in 35 previous.
10:11Cue the ovation.
10:13And the great man.
10:15Looks around.
10:1621 years.
10:18Plus.
10:19An international footballer for Cristiano Ronaldo.
10:23Perisic.
10:24Goes wide.
10:25And it's deep into the middle.
10:27And it's into the side netting.
10:29Final effort came from Cramaric.
10:32It is all over.
10:33Portugal begin their Nations League campaign.
10:37With a victory.
10:38And with a historic goal.
10:40By Cristiano Ronaldo that settled it.
10:43Diogo Dalho scored the opener.
10:45Ronaldo got career goal number 900.
10:50Remarkable.
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