Portugal 2-2 Spain [AET; 5-4 on pens]: Penalty drama seals trophy for the Seleção das Quinas

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·8 June 2025

Portugal 2-2 Spain [AET; 5-4 on pens]: Penalty drama seals trophy for the Seleção das Quinas

Portugal clinched their second UEFA Nations League title by beating Spain on penalties at the Allianz Arena on Sunday night in a thrilling encounter.

Luis de la Fuente’s side struck first when Martin Zubimendi gave them the lead, and while Nuno Mendes quickly cancelled it out with a clinical finish to level the game, Spain regained the advantage through Mikel Oyarzabal on the stroke of half time.

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Cristiano Ronaldo levelled the game again in the 61st minute, pouncing on a loose ball at the back post to make it 2–2, sending the final into extra time. The 30 minutes of extra time passed quickly, with both sides pushing to find a winner, but neither could beat the goalkeeper, taking the match to penalties.

Both teams successfully converted their penalties until Álvaro Morata missed, giving Ruben Neves the chance to win the shootout – and that he did, calmly slotting past Unai Simón to secure the victory and the trophy.

As it happened

Portugal started brightly in the opening five minutes and should have taken the lead through João Neves. A quick corner routine found Bernardo Silva at the back post, who cut it back for Neves, but the wing-back couldn’t guide his shot on target – a major let-off for the defending champions.

Luis de la Fuente’s side grew into the game, creating two brilliant opportunities to open the scoring. Nico Williams teed up Pedri on the edge of the box, but the midfielder couldn’t find the target, before Williams went close himself from a tight angle in a breath-taking start to the game.

Zubimendi finally broke the deadlock in the 21st minute. The Real Sociedad midfielder burst through the centre of the pitch before laying the ball off to Lamine Yamal, who squared a brilliant pass into the box. A brief pinball situation followed, with Neves inadvertently guiding the ball straight to Zubimendi, who calmly slotted home to give the European champions the lead.

Five minutes later, Roberto Martínez’s side were back on level terms in another twist to the final. Ronaldo was found on the edge of the penalty area and laid it off for Nuno Mendes, who surged onto the ball before unleashing a thunderous strike into the bottom corner to equalise.

Spain retook the lead late in the first half after Pedri played a beautiful ball through the heart of the Portuguese defence. Oyarzabal chipped Diogo Costa to finish, ending a jam-packed first half with the Roja taking a 2-1 lead into the break as they aimed to secure back-to-back Nations League titles.

Portugal knew they had to get back into the game and piled on the pressure during the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but struggled to break down Spain’s disciplined defence. Eventually, they found a way through, and Ronaldo did what he does best, reacting first to a loose ball in the box to fire home the 938th goal of his career.

The Seleção das Quinas aimed to defeat Spain in a competitive match for the first time since Euro 2004, as Roberto Martínez’s side pushed to take the lead for the first time in the final. However, la Roja came close when Yamal tested Costa from range, but the goalkeeper made a comfortable save to deny the 17-year-old.

Spain piled on the pressure late in the second half, with substitute Isco testing Costa from distance. The Portuguese goalkeeper was equal to it, producing an excellent save to tip the midfielder’s effort over the bar.

Bruno Fernandes had a brilliant chance to win the game for Roberto Martinez’s side in stoppage time, but Unai Simón produced an excellent save to keep the score level and send the match into extra time.

The first 15 minutes of extra time were a tense, back-and-forth affair, with both sides creating chances but unable to capitalise, while an off-the-ball incident heightened the charged atmosphere as fans grasped the high stakes for their countries.

Both teams continued to create chances, but tiredness began to show as players struggled through the final moments, eventually grinding their way to penalties.

The penalties were intense, with both sets of fans passionately behind their teams. After a miss from Álvaro Morata, Neves calmly slotted his penalty past the outstretched Simón, sending the Portuguese supporters behind the goal into a frenzy as they celebrated their country winning another trophy.