Ramos sends Portugal into Nations League quarter-finals with Norway winner

Portugal qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 comeback victory over Norway in Porto on Sunday, October 4. Gonçalo Ramos scored the winner in the 79th minute at the Estádio do Dragão. AS reported that the result secured qualification after Portugal won all four of their matches in the international window.

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Norway had threatened to interrupt that winning sequence when Kristoffer Ajer scored in the 36th minute. The visitors' advantage lasted only two minutes, with João Cancelo equalising before half-time. Real Madrid's match report confirmed the sequence of goals, with Ramos eventually completing the turnaround after the sides had reached the interval level at 1-1.

João Félix provided the assist for Portugal's decisive goal, according to Sofascore's report. Norway had already lost Erling Haaland, who went off injured in the 67th minute while the score was still level. That report did not establish the severity of the problem or how long the striker might be unavailable, leaving those questions unresolved after the match.

Portugal then had to protect their lead with ten players. Francisco Conceição was dismissed in the 86th minute after receiving two bookings, the second for dissent, Sofascore reported. The sending-off came seven minutes after Ramos had put the hosts ahead, but Norway could not find another goal before the final whistle.

Sky Sports' match statistics showed Portugal finishing with 20 shots to Norway's nine, including seven on target against three. The hosts also held 58.7% possession and won six corners, compared with four for the visitors. Those figures underline Portugal's greater attacking volume, although the scoreboard remained level until the closing stages and the margin of victory was just one goal.

The win completed a sequence that began with a 1-0 home victory over Wales on September 24. Sky Sports' results record lists a 2-1 away win against Norway three days later and a 4-2 success in Denmark on October 1. For Norway, Sunday's defeat followed losses to Portugal and Wales, after they had opened that run with a 3-2 victory over Denmark.