Portugal into Nations League quarters as Haaland limps off in 2-1 win over Norway

Portugal beat Norway 2-1 at the Estádio Do Dragão on Sunday in the Nations League, securing a place in the March quarter-finals while Erling Haaland limped off for the visitors. Gonçalo Ramos's goal late in the game ensured Portugal maintained a 100% record in the competition.

The victory extended Portugal's winning sequence after Cristiano Ronaldo's abrupt exit from the squad last week, a matter the hosts hope will be pushed back into the background by the result. Ramos's strike moved Portugal six points clear of second-placed Denmark in Group A4, with Denmark having beaten Wales 1-0. Portugal had also won in Denmark last Thursday after Ronaldo walked out on the squad.

Norway took the lead in Porto when centre-back Kristoffer Ajer scored in the 36th minute with a dipping half-volley from the edge of the box. João Cancelo levelled two minutes later with a powerful strike, and Ramos netted 11 minutes from time when the ball bounced off his calf after João Félix had headed across goal. The win was marred late on when Francisco Conceição received a second yellow card four minutes from time after giving the referee a thumbs up; Manchester City forward Haaland limped off for the visitors during the match.

After the game Jorge Jesus addressed the Ronaldo situation, saying: “If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team … we can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide.” Jesus's remarks followed the episode in which Ronaldo left the squad last week.

In Group A2 the Netherlands moved to the top after a 2-1 win over Serbia in Eindhoven, but only on goal difference from Greece, who held Germany to a goalless draw in Thessaloniki. Virgil van Dijk celebrated his 100th cap as Teun Koopmeiners put the Netherlands ahead with a 31st-minute free-kick; Serbia equalised within four minutes through Mihajlo Cvetkovic’s header from an Aleksa Terzic cross, and Joshua Zirkzee restored the lead in the 72nd minute following a low cross from Denzel Dumfries that Tijjani Reijnders turned back across goal. Germany dominated the game in Thessaloniki but could not score, and Jürgen Klopp’s inexperienced side have won only one of their first four games under the new coach.

Austria required a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Kosovo, leaving them with a three-point lead at the top of Group B3. Behind them the Republic of Ireland and Israel played out a 1-1 draw behind closed doors in the Serbian town of Backa Topola.

In Group D, Abdulakh Khaybulayev’s first-half goal was enough to put Azerbaijan top after a 1-0 win over Lithuania in D2, while in D1 veteran Teddy Teuma came on as a second-half substitute and Malta defeated Andorra 1-0 at home.

Portugal’s triumph confirmed their place in the Nations League quarter-finals in March and preserved their perfect start in the group stage, with the team now six points clear of Denmark in Group A4.