Ten-man Portugal beats Norway to make last eight
Goncalo Ramos grabbed Portugal's winner as Jorge Jesus's team survived Francisco Conceicao's late dismissal to see off Norway 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League and qualify early for the quater-finals.
Ramos has taken his chance to shine for Portugal in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the squad.
The forward took his tally for this international break to three goals as Portugal maintained its 100 per cent start to its UEFA Nations League Group A4 campaign.
It had to do it the hard way at Estadio Do Dragao, though, after 36th-minute Kristoffer Ajer's stunner put Norway ahead.
Ajer sublimely curled an exquisite finish into the top-right corner, but the defender's effort was matched in quality by Joao Cancelo just two minutes later.
Cancelo met Nuno Mendes's throw-in and, from the edge of the box, arrowed a first-time strike beyond Egil Selvik.
The full-back went close to a second early in the second half, before Erling Haaland dragged wide from his first, and only, opportunity.
Haaland was taken off shortly after in a surprise move, and Portugal almost took the lead when Ruben Neves sliced over from point-blank range.
Yet Portugal finally got its second goal in the 79th minute, with Joao Felix teeing up Ramos, whose finish was a little clumsy off his calf, but successful nonetheless.
There was time for more drama when a member of Norway's bench seemed to see red before Conceicao then received two bookings in swift succession for dissent, but Portugal held on for the points, despite its numerical disadvantage.
“You need a lot of technical quality to beat Norway," Portugal coach Jesus said after the match, admitting even he was surprised by his side's perfect form.
"We won without putting in a performance like the one against Denmark, but the important thing was the victory and qualification.
"I had a lot of belief in this team, but perhaps I didn’t expect us to have four wins from our first four games.”
Gonçalo Matias Ramos
Portugal
