Scotland were yet again left in the shade at the Stadium of Light as Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his 901st career goal to hand Portugal a late Nations League win in Lisbon.
Three days on from being beaten by Poland’s 97th-minute penalty at Hampden, there was further despair for Steve Clarke’s side as they were undone by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s strike three minutes from time. It had all looked so promising, however, when Scott McTominay bagged his second of the campaign to put the Scots ahead just seven minutes.
But with Portugal piling on the pressure, Clarke’s side were pegged back when Angus Gunn allowed a Bruno Fernandes strike to spill through his grasp nine minutes after the interval. Home boss Roberto Martinez started Ronaldo on the bench having watched him bag his 900th career goal in Thursday win over Croatia. But the 39-year-old is showing no signs of slowing and added to his astonishing tally with another late heart-breaker for the Scots.
Clarke went with the same side that were so cruelly edged out 3-2 by Poland at Hampden, with Anthony Ralston and Grant Hanley keeping their slots despite both giving away hugely costly penalties. Hanley ’s disastrous lung on Nicola Zalewski was a nightmare end to their group opener. But Scotland got off to a dream start at the Stadium of Light as McTominay’s continued his remarkable scoring streak.
The new Napoli recruit – who had draw Clarke’s side level on Thursday – made it 11 goals for his country as he peeled round the back as Kenny McLean whipped in a wicked deep cross, thudding home a header as Ruben Diaz appealed in vain for offside. The travelling Tartan Army went wild as they enjoyed a rare moment of ecstasy. But their team didn’t have the time to let the moment soak in as Portugal picked themselves up and immediately set about laying siege to Angus Gunn’s goal.
Rafael Leao was determined to lead the host’s fight-back with a string of attempts, the third forcing Gunn into a sprawling save. The AC Milan ace was giving Ralston plenty of problems and should have set up an equaliser when he raced away from the Celtic defender, but Diogo Jota could only hook over the bar. Jota had a huge chance on the half-hour mark as he ghosted onto a sublime ball in from Fernandes, but his header was straight at Gunn.
Trailing at the break, Roberto Martinez called for the big gun as skipper Cristiano Ronaldo was introduced off the bench. But it was his vice captain Fernandes who slammed home the leveller. Leao’s cut-back found the Man United playmaker in space on the edge of the box but it was a strike Gunn had to keep out.
Having been boxed in since opening the scoring, Scotland suddenly found some ambition as they at at last got themselves into the Portuguese penalty box. A couple of soft penalty appeals were waved away before McTominay had a chance blocked.
But the Portuguese threat was still evident and it took a hat-trick of stunning Gunn stops to keep out Joao Felix and then Ronaldo. But just when it looked like a brave point was in reach, it was snatched away as Ronaldo swept home from Nuno Mendes’s devilish delivery.
Pressure mounting on Clarke
The Scotland boss has been facing some tough questions of late with his side stuck in their 2024 rut. And he’s bound to be dealt some more after seeing his side’s miserable run of just one win in their last 14 games continue.
In fairness to the head coach, his side have shown some bright moments having stepped up to the elite A-League level. But individual errors have proved Scotland’s undoing on a stage when even the merest slips are regularly punished.
Clarke is determined to fight on in the hope of leading his team to the 2026 World Cup.
But he’ll only get that chance if he can somehow manage to retain the faith of the SFA and the Tartan Army.
Ronaldo rollover
One of the quirks of Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible scoring numbers is that none of his first 900 career goals had come against Scottish opposition.
But he finally broke his Tartan duck as he pounced three minutes from time to kill off Steve Clarke’s side. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is reaching the final chapter of his career at 39.
How much longer he has in him is a debate that is getting more and more coverage in his homeland after his ineffective summer showing at the Euros.
But if he was blunt in Germany, he was lethal in Lisbon, pouncing to tap home with just minutes left.
Great Scott
If Portugal have a goal machine in Ronaldo, then Scott McTominay is the closest we’ve got to a Scottish equivalent.
The new Napoli recruit is the scourge of the bookies and the goal-any-time market having netted on 10 occasions since the start of Euro 2024 qualifying. It was his effort that briefly had Clarke’s side level on Thursday night and he followed that up with another beauty of a goal in Lisbon to make it 11 in total for his country from 54 appearances
The secret of his scoring success is down to the timing of his runs into the box and it was worked out to the split-second as he ghosted off Ruben Diaz’s shoulder to plant a firm header past Diogo Costa just seven minutes in.
Sinners to Saints
It was a night to forget for Kenny McLean, Anthony Ralston and Grant Hanley against the Poles.
McLean was at fault for Sebastian Szymański’s early opener before Ralston and Hanley joined the list of Hampden fall guys with two rash challenges in the box.
Clarke stuck by the hapless trio in Lisbon and fair play, they all responded to their manager’s show of faith with hugely impressive displays.
It was McLean’s delicious cross that put McTominay in to score while Ralston coped well with AC Milan ace Rafael Leao after coming through a couple of hairy moments.
And Hanley was just as resolute as the Norwich defender threw himself at countless cross and shots.
His centre-back partner Scott McKenna had done the same – all until the 87th minute when he momentarily lost track Ronaldo and paid the price.
Gunned down
Angus Gunn’s impressive form during the early stages of his Scotland career established the Norwich keeper as Steve Clarke’s undisputed No1.
But there is now a growing Tartan Army contingent who will be ready to to question his status as first-choice shot-stopper after another shaky performance.
He was left slamming his first into the turf having got a hand to Bruno Fernandes’ strike before letting it squirm over the line.
Fair play, though, Gunn didn’t let that mistake affect his focus and he responded with three heroics stops to frustrate Joao Felix twice before clawing away a Ronaldo header after it had bounced off the post.
But it wasn’t enough for a point as Ronaldo snatched away the win.