Hojbjerg opened the scoring from a penalty kick at the 43rd minute, leaving Portugal with a 4-1 defeat at the Estádio Municipal de Braga on Saturday, rtp.pt reported.
The fixture marked the first match for the Seleção Nacional since Cristiano Ronaldo officially departed the squad after 23 years, 234 matches, and 146 goals. Jorge Jesus suffered his first defeat in five matches at the helm of Portugal after four prior victories secured qualification for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, according to rtp.pt.
Denmark defeated Portugal 4-1 in Braga. If Denmark defeats Norway at home and Portugal loses away to Wales on Tuesday, the Nordic side will capture first group place and secure seeding status for the quarterfinals.
Portugal struggles with defensive vulnerabilities and tactical issues
Portugal displayed severe defensive vulnerabilities and struggled to connect its offensive play throughout the match. Jesus made four changes to his starting lineup from the 2-1 victory over Norway on October 4, handing Alberto Costa an absolute debut at right-back while deploying Diogo Dalot on the left, Rúben Neves in midfield, and Pedro Neto on the right wing.
Denmark controlled the tempo early, as Rúben Dias cleared a dangerous chance at the 13th minute to avert an early goal. A weak shot from Pedro Neto directly at goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s replacement, Peter Hermansen, at the 20th minute reflected Portugal’s lack of attacking firepower.
 "Photo: A Bola")
After the referee consulted the VAR for a handball by Dias inside the area, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg converted the resulting penalty kick at the 43rd minute. Rasmus Hojlund then added a second goal at the 50th minute by capitalizing on defensive passivity, before scoring his second just seven minutes later to stretch the lead.
Denmark extends lead before Portugal scores late
Jesus introduced João Palhinha, Carlos Forbs, and Francisco Trincão at the 64th minute in search of a spark. Instead, Joachim Andersen extended the lead to four goals at the 75th minute by heading in a free-kick without opposition, according to the match report.
Bernardo Silva scored Portugal’s only goal in stoppage time at the 90+3 minute by following up on an incomplete save by Hermansen. SIC Notícias said that the team failed to secure the single point needed to comfortably lock down the top spot in Group A4.
“Não conseguimos segurar a Dinamarca,” Jesus acknowledged during the post-match press conference, accepting the total superiority of the visiting side.
Manager reactions to Ronaldo’s absence
When questioned about whether he missed Cristiano Ronaldo after the 1-4 defeat, Jesus responded with a question of his own, as reported by A Bola.
“Falta como? Já não está cá. Falta de quê?”, Jesus told A Bola, adding that Ronaldo makes sense only to keep him company but is no longer with the team and has decided his future.
The manager earlier admitted that it is normal for supporters to miss a player who represented the national team for 23 years, noting that there is no turning back from that reality. Spectators at the stadium chanted Ronaldo’s name after Denmark netted its fourth goal.
Experts and supporters react to Portugal's performance
Beach soccer international Jordan Santos pointed out that Portugal left too much space in the midfield corridors for Denmark to exploit, highlighting strong performances from Alexander Bah and Diogo Dalot, according to Record.
Actor Jorge Corrula expressed shock at the team’s lack of attitude and failure to react after falling behind, suggesting the result served as a reality check for the squad, Record reported.
Former player Paulo Madeira described the performance as regrettable, noting that Denmark executed its match plan perfectly while Portugal committed fundamental defensive errors that must serve as a lesson for the future, as reported by Record.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the match take place?
The UEFA Nations League fixture was played on Saturday at the Estádio Municipal de Braga.
What does this result mean for Portugal’s group standing?
Portugal remains first in Group 4 with 12 points, three ahead of Denmark.
Who scored the goals for Denmark?
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored from a penalty, Rasmus Hojlund scored twice, and Joachim Andersen added a header.
What is Portugal’s next fixture?
Portugal will visit Wales on Tuesday for the final matchday of the group stage.
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