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Attendance: 43,199
Portugal national football team
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Jun 9, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Netherlands national football team

1-0

Guedes (60')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and the Netherlands, which finished 1-0.
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Portugal won the inaugural UEFA Nations League title courtesy of a 1-0 win over the Netherlands in Sunday night's final at the Estadio do Dragao.

Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal of the match in the 60th minute and it was a deserved victory for Fernando Santos's side, who offered the greater threat in Porto.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute commentary of the action below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and the Netherlands. Portugal overcame Switzerland on Wednesday night courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, before the Netherlands moved past England in a eventful last-four clash 24 hours later. It should be a brilliant clash in Porto - stay tuned right here for live minute-by-minute updates!

TEAMS!

PORTUGAL: Patrico; Semedo, Dias, Fonte, Guerreiro; Fernandes, Danilo, Carvalho; B Silva, Guedes, Ronaldo

NETHERLANDS: Cillessen; Dumfries, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Blind; De Roon, Wijnaldum, F de Jong; Babel, Memphis, Bergwijn


Portugal boss Fernando Santos has made three changes to the team that started against Switzerland in the semi-finals, with Jose Fonte, Danilo and Goncalo Guedes coming in for Pepe, Ruben Neves and Joao Felix. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals and will be looking to cause Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt a lot of problems tonight.

As for the Netherlands, Ronald Koeman has named the same XI that started against England, meaning that Quincy Promes is again on the bench despite impressing against the Three Lions. There will once again be eyes on De Ligt, while Memphis Depay will be tasked with providing the main goal threat.

The overall winner does not receive automatic qualification for Euro 2020, but there is prize money of around £9m for the team that emerges victorious, in addition to the first trophy of its kind. Right, we are just about ready to get the UEFA Nations League final underway!

KICKOFF:  Portugal, in their usual red, kick things off here...

... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium. Portugal, of course, have home advantage, but Netherlands - in blue - are still well-represented in the stands.

Penalty shout for Portugal as Bernardo Silva goes down inside the Netherlands box under pressure from Blind, but the referee is not interested. Looked a little clumsy from Blind!

Just a few signs that Netherlands are getting to grips with the middle battle early on. Frenkie de Jong was sensational against England on Thursday night and has started really well here - fizzing a number of passes into teammates. Six minutes on the clock and we are goalless.

All about De Jong at the moment as the midfielder continues to keep the ball moving in the middle of the park. Barcelona are signing a player capable of becoming the best in the world.

SHOT!  Bruno Fernandes fires wide of Cillessen's post from distance.

Netherlands have played the better football in the opening 11 minutes but Portugal have carried the greater threat in the final third of the field. Just a reminder that there will be extra-time and penalties if the two teams cannot be separated. Long way off though!

Strong defending from Blind to come across and block Fernandes's pull-back. The resulting corner is delivered into the Dutch box but De Ligt is on hand to make the clearance.

SAVE!  Decent stop from Cillessen to keep out a strike from Fernandes.

Danilo - back from suspension - has been bright in the Portugal midfield thus far, stepping ahead of the likes of De Roon and Wijnaldum on a few occasions now before releasing the ball further forward. This is developing into a very good game with 15 minutes on the clock.

In terms of the recent meetings between these two nations, Netherlands recorded a 3-0 victory when the pair last met in an international friendly in March 2018. However, Portugal ran out 2-1 winners in their last competitive meeting in the last-16 stage of Euro 2012.

Danilo has a shot blocked by De Ligt almost into the path of Bernardo Silva, but Cillessen is on hand to make the claim. Still goalless with 19 minutes played but it is a lively match here.

Ronaldo fizzes a low cross into the Netherlands box but there are no takers. Portugal also have the next attack through Bruno Fernandes on the opposite side, with the midfielder delivering low towards Guedes, only for Van Dijk to come across and make the clearance.

You do get the feeling that one goal could be enough to decide this match. Indeed, both defences have been tight in the first 23 minutes and it could get cagey in the second period.

Not an awful lot to report in the last few minutes with both teams guilty of conceding possession in forward areas. The Netherlands are currently in control of the possession.

Portugal have enjoyed a decent spell of possession in the last couple of minutes without really going anywhere with it. The ball does eventually get worked into Ronaldo but the attacker's shot is blocked by Van Dijk, who has again been everywhere in the first 27 minutes here.

SAVE!  Routine save for Cillessen to keep out a header from Fonte.

SAVE!  Another smart save from Cillessen to keep out a powerful drive from Bruno Fernandes.

Cillessen denies Ronaldo from a close-range header, but the offside flag had been raised. There is no question that the Barcelona man has been the busier goalkeeper here.

Defensively, Netherlands are excellent, while they have a genius in midfield. However, it would be fair to say that they lack quality in the final third. Memphis has improved but remains inconsistent, while Ryan Babel's presence says a lot about Koeman's options in attack.

Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still level in Porto. Netherlands are again having good possession without really threatening to find the back of the net.

Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still level in Porto. Netherlands are again having good possession without really threatening to find the back of the net.

SHOT!  Fernandes has a shot blocked over the crossbar by Van Dijk as Portugal force the issue once again. The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has been very bright in this first period.

SHOT!  Fernandes again with the effort, and the ball just misses the crossbar.

Netherlands manage to ease the pressure by enjoying possession in the Portugal half, but Babel's shot is blocked before Fernando Santos's side get players behind the ball.

SAVE!  Comfortable save for Cillessen to keep out a strike from Ronaldo. Another effort on target for Portugal but it was a routine stop for the Barcelona goalkeeper. Still goalless here.

Netherlands again settle things down with a period of possession, but they are not really going anywhere with it. Portugal have been easily the more dangerous team, although it is difficult to say that they have created clear chances. The first half has flown past here.

Koeman's side win their first corner of the match in the 44th minute and it is delivered by Blind in the 45th, but Fonte is on hand to make the clearance and Portugal can break.

Semedo has a shot blocked behind by Van Dijk.

HALF TIME:  PORTUGAL 0-0 NETHERLANDS

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Portugal have certainly been the more threatening in the final third, but Netherlands have arguably played the better football in the middle third of the pitch. It has not been the best 45 minutes of football to be honest, although it is very delicately poised ahead of the second period.

STATISTICS! Netherlands had 59% of the first-half possession but managed just one shot. Meanwhile, Portugal had 12 attempts in the opening 45 minutes, with four of those hitting the target. No yellow cards to report here - it has not really been that type of match.

BENCH WATCH! Propper, Promes, Van de Beek and Strootman were the four players off the Dutch bench in the semi-finals, and it would not be a surprise to see at least two of those in the second period. Portugal, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Felix, Neves, Moutinho and Pizzi.

KICKOFF:  Netherlands resume the action here...

NETHERLANDS SUB! Babel is replaced by Promes at the interval.

Much, much better from Holland at the start of the second period with Promes making a huge difference in the final third. Promes has just broken into a dangerous position inside the Portugal box but Fonte managed to deflect the ball back to his own goalkeeper.

Patricio makes a brilliant save to deny Wijnaldum from close range, but there was a late flag. Very late indeed. Super save but it would not have counted. Again it is good football from Koeman's side, though, with Portugal under pressure at the start of the second period.

Ronaldo shrugs off the attentions of two defenders before feeding Guedes, but the attacker cannot find a teammate with a cross. Excellent work and strength from Ronaldo again.

A clever flick from Bernardo Silva threatens to cause a problem inside the Dutch box, but De Roon heads behind and the resulting corner is also cleared. Really good game here.

De Ligt has to turn a low Guedes cross behind as Portugal continue to force the issue. You do get the feeling that a goal is coming here as it has become a little bit frantic.

You do wonder how long Santos will leave it before looking to his bench, which is full of talent. Joao Felix would be the obvious attacking change and it would be some story if the in-demand teenager came off the bench to win the Nations League for his country.

SAVE!  Patricio has to make a smart save to keep out a deflected cross after Memphis had got the better of Fonte in a dangerous position. Nervy, nervy moment for Fonte there!

NETHERLANDS SUB! Bergwijn is replaced by Van de Beek.

GOAL!  PORTUGAL 1-0 NETHERLANDS (GUEDES)

Breakthrough! Portugal take the lead on the hour as Guedes collects a pass from Bernardo Silva before firing one into the bottom corner of the net. Cillessen got hands to the strike but it had too much power and Portugal lead the UEFA Nations League final!

No real sign of a response from the Dutch side at the moment with Portugal the team on the front foot, looking for a second goal. Ronaldo has again been terrific for Santos's side.

Van de Beek finds a little bit of space in a wide position before attempting to find Memphis, but Semedo is on hand to make the block. The resulting corner is then headed clear by Berardo Silva as the score stays 1-0 to Portugal. Little over 25 minutes remaining here.

SAVE!  Smart save from Patricio to keep out a header from Memphis!

There will be some nervy moments late on if Portugal are to win this 1-0. Koeman's side will not go down without a fight, that is for sure. Still no movement on the Portugal bench here.

Blind delivers a dangerous free kick into the Portugal box but Fonte is on hand to make the clearance. Promes then sees a low cross cleared by Semedo as the pressure stays on.

Still no movement on the Portugal bench which is a surprise with 72 minutes on the clock. Is there going to be late drama in this game, or will Guedes's strike be enough to win it?

PORTUGAL SUB! Guedes is replaced by Rafa Silva for Portugal.

Little under 15 minutes of normal time remaining and the goalscorer Guedes has left the field. The Netherlands need their fans to raise the volume here as they look for a leveller which would force extra-time. Is there a mistake in Fonte at the back? Time will tell!

Brilliant from Rafa Silva to drive clear of a number of players to carry the ball into the Dutch half of the field. Little over 10 minutes remaining and Portugal still have the lead.

SHOT!  De Roon just misses the Portugal goal with a powerful strike!

SAVE!  Comfortable save for Cillessen to keep out a strike from Fernandes.

PORTUGAL SUB! Moutinho replaces Fernandes for Portugal.

NETHERLANDS SUB! Luuk de Jong replaces De Roon for the Dutch side.

VAR are going to have a look at a possible Dutch penalty here...

... nothing in it. Patricio had to prevent Guerreiro from turning into the back of his own net.

Netherlands threaten with a couple of corners in quick succession, but Portugal manage to clear their lines. Still 1-0 with little over five minutes of normal time remaining here.

Not a great deal of noise inside the stadium at the moment, which is a surprise when considering what is at stake in the final stages of this contest. You do get the feeling that there is one more big chance left in this game. Can the Netherlands force a late leveller?

Moutinho goes down inside the Dutch box and wants a penalty, but the referee does not whistle. Nervy moment for the Netherlands, who could have conceded a second.

Plenty of possession for the Netherlands but not too much to report in terms of chances. Promes has just delivered a deep cross but Patricio is on hand to make the claim.

YELLOW CARD!  Dumfries (Netherlands) is booked for a poor challenge on Rafa Silva.

SHOT!  Ronaldo's free kick is wide of the target as we head for the 90th minute.

SHOT!  Moutinho strikes over the crossbar as Portugal threaten a second goal. Not an awful lot to report from Koeman's side, although Van Dijk has been sent to play as a striker here.

YELLOW CARD!  Memphis (Netherlands) is booked for dissent.

We are into the second of three additional minutes at the end of the match. The Netherlands are running out of time if they are to take this contest into extra-time.

PORTUGAL SUB! Neves replaces Carvalho for Portugal.

FULL TIME:  PORTUGAL 1-0 NETHERLANDS

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Portugal winning the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win over the Netherlands. What a night for Fernando Santos's side! Netherlands deserve huge credit, but they were second best on the night. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!

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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League on June 5, 2019.
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