Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal was held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday, as the home side avoided losing five consecutive competitive matches for the first time in their history.
Scotland, seeking to end a dismal run of form, relied on a remarkable save from goalkeeper Craig Gordon to deny Bruno Fernandes a late winner. Gordon’s intervention ensured Scotland secured their first point in the top tier of the Nations League.
Despite the stalemate, Portugal remains at the top of Group A1 but will have to wait to secure their place in the quarter-finals scheduled for March.
On his 216th international appearance, Ronaldo marked his 200th start for Portugal, more than 21 years after his debut. However, the 39-year-old was unable to extend his tally of 133 international goals, leaving the pitch in a rage after the final whistle and gesturing a “double thumbs down” to the officials.
Scotland has struggled in recent matches, winning only one of their last 16 games—a friendly victory against Gibraltar in June. With over a year without a competitive win, the team put up a resilient performance in Glasgow to break their losing streak.
The Scots had the first significant opportunity just five minutes into the match, with Scott McTominay heading too close to Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa from point-blank range. Portugal then took control of possession but failed to convert their dominance into clear chances. Francisco Conceicao wasted an opportunity early in the second half, shooting over from a Ronaldo lay-off.
Ronaldo himself came close, firing just inches wide after creating space amid a flurry of Scottish defenders. The best chance for Portugal, however, fell to Fernandes. The Manchester United captain unleashed a powerful low strike, but the 41-year-old Gordon superbly parried the shot and collected the rebound to maintain the deadlock.
Scotland’s performance may not have secured them a victory, but it keeps them in contention in the Nations League. They currently trail Poland, who drew 3-3 with Croatia, by three points, with two games remaining. Croatia sits second in the group, three points behind Portugal, whom they will host next month.
