Nations League: Scotland hold Portugal
Scotland 0 - 0 Portugal
Scotland put on a determined defensive performance to hold Portugal to a 0-0 draw, earning their first point in the Nations League A campaign.
Scott McTominay had a golden opportunity early on but missed, and from there, the Scots saw little of the ball as Portugal pressed hard for a breakthrough.
Cristiano Ronaldo, making his 200th international appearance, was left frustrated in his pursuit of a 134th goal for Portugal, as Scotland’s goalkeeper Craig Gordon and his defence stood their ground.
While the result means Steve Clarke’s team have now won just one of their last 16 matches, they avoided the unwanted record of becoming the first Scotland side to lose five consecutive games.
A more detailed look at what happened in Glasgow
After a tough time at the Euros and a difficult Nations League campaign so far, Scotland needed to lift the Hampden crowd, and they nearly did just that within the first four minutes.
Ben Doak made a surging run down the left and laid the ball off to Andy Robertson, who delivered a perfect cross to find Scott McTominay unmarked in the box. But, from just eight yards out, his header went straight into the arms of Portugal’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa. It was the sort of chance you can’t afford to miss against opposition of this calibre.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who broke Scottish hearts with a late winner in Portugal’s 2-1 victory in Lisbon last month, had his first attempt on goal saved by Craig Gordon.
Ryan Christie tested Costa with a half-volley from the edge of the box, while at the other end, Gordon made a vital save to tip away a free-kick from Nuno Mendes.
Portugal dominated possession, and Francisco Conceicao squandered a decent opportunity, sending his shot well over the bar after being set up by Ronaldo.
Despite Portugal’s pressure, Scotland’s defence held firm, never looking likely to buckle.
Later in the second-half, Lewis Morgan sent in a cross for Che Adams to nod down to McTominay, but the Napoli player couldn’t find the finish.
There was another crucial chance that came 15 minutes from the end. Anthony Ralston broke the Portugal offside trap and saw McTominay racing into the box. A precise cross would have surely resulted in a goal, but the pass was overhit, and the opportunity slipped away.
Gordon made a crucial save late on to deny Bruno Fernandes, and in a heart-stopping moment, debutant Nicky Devlin threw himself in front of Rafael Leao’s goal-bound shot to ensure Scotland held on for a hard-fought point.
