Portugal Defeat the Netherlands to Emerge Inaugural UEFA Nations League

European champions Portugal are the winners of the first-ever UEFA Nations League, with a second-half Goncalo Guedes goal sending them to victory over the Netherlands.

The home support inside the Estadio do Dragao will feel this was a deserved victory as the Portuguese had dominated throughout the match, getting off four shots on target and four shots off target in a first half where a tired Dutch side couldn’t muster up a single effort.

None of the Portuguese first-half chances were particularly dangerous, but Jasper Cillessen still did well to deny Jose Fonte, Bruno Fernandes, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cillessen, though, couldn’t deny Guedes on the hour mark, even though he got a hand on the Valencia man’s shot.

That put Portugal in front, but this provoked a response from the Dutch and Memphis Depay almost headed past Rui Patricio from a Donny van de Beekcross just a few minutes later.

Van de Beek himself then tested Rui Patricio in the final 10 minutes, but the goalkeeper was able to save and he then helped guide his nation to glory by collecting almost every desperate cross that the Dutch fired into his box in the closing stages.

As was the case just three years ago in 2016, Portugal have won a trophy and are celebrating.