Portugal manager Fernando Santos defined Cristiano Ronaldo as “a genius” after his magnificent hat-trick secured Portugal’s win over Switzerland at the Estadio do Dragao in the Nations League finals.
Ronaldo, 34, had provided the hosts the lead with an amazing first-half free-kick flying into the bottom-right corner of Swiss keeper Yann Sommer, who was wrong-footing.
In the second period, Switzerland leveled off a video assistant referee-awarded penalty when Ricardo Rodriguez tucked away-after Felix Brych had originally signaled a penalty at the other end.
But referee Brych instead gave a spot-kick for Nelson Semedo’s foul on Switzerland’s Steven Zuber after consulting his pitch-side monitor. The hosts, incensed by the choice, struggled to construct any rhythm as the play seemed to be drifting towards extra time.
At the same time, before shooting 102 seconds later into the same place, Ronaldo produced the key distinction late, sweeping the cross of Bernardo Silva into the next corner.