Portugal secured a 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo on Sunday, marking their second consecutive win in Group A4 of the UEFA Nations League as they defend their title. Goncalo Ramos started in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the decisive goal, helping Portugal recover from their round of 16 exit at the recent World Cup.

This match represented the first time since September 2024 that the 41-year-old Ronaldo was named among the substitutes for Portugal in a Nations League game. However, he remained on the bench throughout the encounter as coach Jorge Jesus opted to manage his veteran star’s playing time during an extended international break. Ramos seized the opportunity to impress, netting his 12th international goal and delivering a hardworking performance across the pitch.

"Every moment is important. The most important thing is to show what I can do whenever I’m called upon and to contribute to the team," Ramos said after the match. "It was a demonstration of my work, of what I can offer the team – not just goals, but everything I do on the pitch."

Norway, who recently reached the World Cup quarter-finals, struggled to capitalize on chances despite an opening 3-2 victory against Denmark in this Nations League campaign. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland had several opportunities but was repeatedly denied by Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defensive interventions.

Portugal opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Joao Felix struck a precise shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Haaland finally found the equalizer six minutes into the second half, tapping in a close-range finish following a header from Patrick Berg.

The match turned again shortly afterward when Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made a critical error by passing directly to Ramos, who calmly chipped the ball into the net to restore Portugal's lead. Portugal continued to press for a potentially decisive third goal, with Rafael Leao hitting the crossbar on a deflected shot.

A late VAR review disallowed another Ramos goal by the narrowest of margins for offside. Ramos had beaten Nyland to a long pass and scored into an unguarded net, but the goal was ruled out after video assistant referees intervened.

Portugal’s victory consolidates their position at the top of the group, maintaining momentum after their narrow win over Wales earlier in the week. Meanwhile, Norway remains optimistic but must find greater efficiency in front of goal to maximize their chances in the competition.