A spirited Scotland performance at Hampden Park saw Steve Clarke’s side pick up their first Nations League point of the campaign as they held Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a 0-0 draw at Hampden Park.
Despite Portugal enjoying the lion’s share of possession, it will perhaps the home side that will leave the Group A1 clash most disappointed after Scott McTominay uncharacteristically failed to convert two golden chances in either half that would have secured an unlikely three points.
Head coach Clarke opted to make just one change from the 2-1 defeat to Croatia, with Che Adams replacing Lyndon Dykes upfront. For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo led the line, earning his 216th cap in the process.
The pre-match talk had been dominated by the Portuguese superstar’s arrival at Hampden Park, but the headlines were almost stolen by McTominay after just five minutes when his header from Andy Robertson’s sublime cross was palmed away at close range.
The visitors would soon assert their dominance though, with Ronaldo and Nuno Mendes both seeing shots well saved by Craig Gordon in the Scotland goal. The home side would then Ryan Christie pull a fine save out of Diogo Costa as the Bournemouth man worked a fine volley from a corner.
Ronaldo would go close again in the second-half, pinging a header over the crossbar, while Ben Doak’s slack pass allowed Francisco Conceição to fire just over from the edge of the area. Despite constant Portugal pressure, it was McTominay who would again be presented with a wonderful chance, but he couldn’t quite stretch to place home Anthony Ralston’s cross after some smart interplay between Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan.
In the end though, neither side were able to break the deadlock as Scotland took a deserved point against the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists.
9. CM: Scott McTominay - 7
Battled well in midfield and was unlucky not to open the scoring with a header early on. Has fantastic engine and never stops running - machine-like. Great challenge on Bruno Fernandes that was unfairly ruled as a yellow card for the Napoli midfielder. Will be disappointed he couldn't quite connect to Ralston's cross with the goal gapping as Scotland broke late on. | SNS Group
10. LW: Ben Doak - 5
Had two neat dribble early on in both halves, but was largely quiet and unable to showcase his unique talents as Portugal dominated the bulk of possession. Only touched the ball nine times in the first-half and his poor ball to Bruno Fernandes almost cost Scotland dear. Replacing by Lewis Morgan with just over 20 minutes to go. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
11. CF: Che Adams - 5
Tried his best to hold the ball and get Scotland up the field, but was pretty much invisible as the visitors dominated the ball. Gifted a pass in the opening throws of the game, but wasn't able to do anything with it. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
12. Substitutes
Lewis Morgan (on for Doak 68 mins) - 6 Ryan Gauld (on for Christie 68 mins) - 6 Lyndon Dykes (on for Adams 83 mins) - N/A Nicky Devlin (on for Ralston 89) - N/A | SNS Group