Wales beaten in Nations League opener against Portugal
Phil Blanche, Press Association, Lisbon
Wales fell to an opening 1-0 Nations League defeat to Portugal as Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank in Lisbon.
On an evening when Ronaldo missed a slew of chances and had a second-half effort ruled out by a VAR intervention, it was his Al Nassr team-mate Joao Felix who settled the contest.
Ronaldo was winning cap number 234 after deciding to prolong his international career following a disappointing World Cup, but his contribution ended when substituted after 67 minutes.
The manner of Felix’s 22nd minute goal was cruel on Wales, deflecting off Ben Davies, but it could not be denied that Portugal deserved their victory by having 23 shots to five.
Being pitched into a tough Nations League A group with Portugal, Norway and Denmark was Wales’ reward for promotion two years ago.
But boss Craig Bellamy – who was on the brink of leaving in the summer to join Burnley – had welcomed the challenge as an opportunity to improve their seeding for the 2028 European Championship.
Ronaldo was back at the Jose Alvalde Stadium, where he began his career with Sporting Lisbon, as the septuagenarian Jorge Jesus took charge for the first time.
On paper it looked a mismatch with Portugal ranked seventh in the world and 31 places higher than Wales, and their players drawn from major European clubs while Craig Bellamy’s squad had been ravaged by injuries and withdrawals.
Key pair Harry Wilson and Joe Rodon were missing and the absence of goalkeeper Karl Darlow saw Wrexham’s Danny Ward make only his second appearance of the season.
The first half was a tale of Felix’s strike and rising Ronaldo frustration.
Wales actually started in composed fashion, with Lewis Koumas occupying Portugal defenders and showing why he has impressed at Liverpool this season.
But Portugal gradually took control and Ronaldo fired wide from a tight angle before his poor touch allowed Neco Williams to recover.
Pedro Neto missed at the far post before Felix’s 20-yard shot nicked off Davies to take the ball beyond Ward.
Ronaldo sent another opening wide before an untidy strike from 12 yards allowed Ward to collect, leaving the Portugal captain kicking the air in disgust.
The script stayed the same after the break as Ruben Neves set up a Ronaldo tap-in from four yards.
The wait for Ronaldo’s 147th international goal seemed over, but his connection sent the ball sailing over to the bewilderment of home fans.
There was even more despair for Ronaldo when racing onto a Bruno Fernandes pass after 59 minutes.
Ronaldo slid the ball home and raced towards the corner flag for his trademark ‘Siuuu’ celebration, but VAR disallowed the goal for offside.
Wales almost produced an equaliser from nowhere as Brennan Johnson broke through and, from the byline, looped his effort on to the bar.
Koumas attempted to prod home the rebound but Ruben Dias made a superb clearance to deny Wales.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Get more trusted Welsh news
Choose Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News to see more of our journalism.
I watched the match, but I felt it was a little flat at times. We wasted so many opportunities. We still miss a player like Gareth Bale, who would have put the fear of god into the opposition, and produced a wonder goal from nothing.
I think the Craig Bellamy saga has affected the Wales players. The are positives though. We never conceded after Portugal scored, where in the past we would have collapsed, and Wales should have equalised towards the end if it were not for the post.