Nations League final: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands

Portugal became the first European nation to host and win a final of a major competition since France at the 1998 World Cup.

Hosts Portugal claimed their second trophy in three years by beating the Netherlands to win the inaugural Nations League.

Fernando Santos' side triumphed at the 2016 European Championship and Goncalo Guedes' second half strike gave them a narrow victory in Porto which Santos said was evidence of their unity as a team.

"For the last five years, we have been an almost indestructible family who know what we are capable of doing," he said. "We knew we could win this match."

The victory was achieved through Guedes, the Valencia winger smashing in from the edge of the area following Bernardo Silva's clever cutback, though Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen will be disappointed he did not keep the effort out.

The Dutch looked to get back into the game but Memphis Depay's powerful header was well saved by Wolves number one Rui Patricio and ex-Middlesbrough midfielder Marten de Roon lashed over.

England finished third in the tournament after a victory on penalties over Switzerland in Guimaraes.

• Relive Portugal's victory over the Netherlands

Ronaldo kept quiet by Van Dijk

The game was billed on the clash of the two influential captains - Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk.

Both players claimed silverware at club level last season, Ronaldo winning the Serie A title with Juventus, while Van Dijk contributed to ending Liverpool's seven year wait for a trophy by triumphing in the Champions League.

Ronaldo, 34, scored a sublime hat-trick in the semi-final victory over Switzerland but was unable to add to his 88 international goals, seeing a thumping, goalbound drive blocked by the towering Van Dijk.

The closest he came to netting was when he skipped past two defenders from the left, but stuck a shot straight at Barcelona's Cillessen. He also smashed a free-kick wide late on.

Former Southampton and Celtic player Van Dijk was his solid, assured self at the back but could do nothing about the winning goal, though Cillessen was unable to keep out Guedes' strike having got a hand on the effort.

Manchester City's Silva, who set up the goal, said: "I am very happy and very proud. It is my first title with Portugal. After the amazing season with my club, to finish this way is amazing. It is time to rest now and prepare for next season and try to do even better.

"The most important thing is that Portugal won. If you can add to that individual awards, then even better."

Portugal are now unbeaten in their last 10 games and despite defeat, Netherlands - who have failed to reach the last two major tournaments - will take heart from their progress since the appointment of Ronald Koeman as boss.

"They were masters at defending when they were ahead," said Koeman. "We should have been a bit more clever in looking for free kicks. We were not good enough tonight."

How did two potential summer movers do?

With the international transfer window about to open on Tuesday, clubs will be gearing up to complete signings in time for the new season.

Two players who have been heavily linked with moves were in action in the final and highlighted why their signatures will be so sought after.

Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, linked with a reported £68m move to either Manchester United or Tottenham, scored 32 goals and provided 17 assists for Sporting Lisbon last season.

The 24-year-old was one of the best players on the field with his lively movement and eye for goal. His six shots in the match were more than any other player, forcing Cillessen into making saves, albeit to efforts from long range.

Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt is another who has been heavily linked with a move to United as well as Barcelona and the teenager captained Ajax to a Dutch league and cup double.

Playing alongside Van Dijk, the 19-year-old impressed at the back once more, contributing six clearances and three tackles for his side and also winning the ball back three times.

Dutch despair - the stats

• Portugal are the first European nation to host and win a final of a major competition since France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final of the 1998 World Cup.
• The Netherlands have lost four of their last five finals in major international tournaments (three in the World Cup, once in the Nations League).
• They remain winless against Portugal when playing them in Portugal, drawing two and losing four of their six such meetings.
• Goncalo Guedes has been directly involved in five goals in his last eight appearances for Portugal (three goals and two assists).
• No Portugal player has been directly involved in more goals than Bernardo Silva in the Nations League this season (3 - joint-most with Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Silva), while he also made the most assists of any Portuguese player (2).
• The Netherlands' first shot in this game came in the 65th minute; by which time Portugal had already had 14 shots and opened the scoring.
• Jasper Cillessen became the fifth goalkeeper to reach 50 international appearances for the Netherlands, after Edwin Van Der Sar (130), Hans Van Breukelen (73), Maarten Stekelenburg (58) and Gejus Van Der Meulen (54).
• The Netherlands fielded the same starting XI in consecutive games for the first time since October 2014 (under Guus Hiddink).

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Portugal

• 1Rui Patrício
• 20Nélson Semedo
• 6José Fonte
• 4Rúben Dias
• 5Guerreiro
• 16Bruno FernandesSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 81'minutes
• 13Danilo
• 14William CarvalhoSubstituted forNevesat 90+3'minutes
• 10Bernardo Silva
• 7Cristiano Ronaldo
• 17Gonçalo GuedesSubstituted forFerreira Silvaat 75'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Cancelo
• 8João Moutinho
• 9Ferreira Sousa
• 11Jota
• 12Malheiro de Sá
• 15Ferreira Silva
• 18Neves
• 19Mário Rui
• 21Afonso Fernandes
• 22Beto
• 23Sequeira

Netherlands

• 1Cillessen
• 22DumfriesBooked at 88mins
• 3de Ligt
• 4van DijkBooked at 90mins
• 17Blind
• 15de RoonSubstituted forde Jongat 81'minutes
• 21de Jong
• 7BergwijnSubstituted forvan de Beekat 60'minutes
• 8Wijnaldum
• 9BabelSubstituted forPromesat 45'minutes
• 10Depay

Substitutes

• 2Hateboer
• 5Aké
• 6Pröpper
• 11Promes
• 12van Aanholt
• 13Vermeer
• 14de Vrij
• 16Strootman
• 18Vilhena
• 19de Jong
• 20van de Beek
• 23Bizot

Referee:

Alberto Undiano Mallenco

Attendance:

43,199

Match Stats

Home TeamPortugalAway TeamNetherlands

Possession

Home43%

Away57%

Shots

Home18

Away4

Shots on Target

Home7

Away1

Corners

Home10

Away4

Fouls

Home6

Away13

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Portugal 1, Netherlands 0.

2. 90'+4'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Portugal 1, Netherlands 0.

3. 90'+3'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Portugal. Rúben Neves replaces William Carvalho.

4. 90'+1'

   Booking

   Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) is shown the yellow card.

5. 90'+1'

   Post update

   Foul by Luuk de Jong (Netherlands).

6. 90'+1'

   Post update

   José Fonte (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

7. 90'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. João Moutinho (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

8. 89'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.

9. 88'

   Booking

   Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

10. 88'

    Post update

    Foul by Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands).

11. 88'

    Post update

    Rafa (Portugal) wins a free kick on the left wing.

12. 86'

    Post update

    Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

13. 86'

    Post update

    Foul by William Carvalho (Portugal).

14. 86'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Nélson Semedo (Portugal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.

15. 83'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Daley Blind with a cross following a corner.

16. 83'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daley Blind with a cross.

17. 82'

    Post update

    Corner, Netherlands. Conceded by Rui Patrício.

18. 81'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Portugal. João Moutinho replaces Bruno Fernandes.

19. 81'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Netherlands. Luuk de Jong replaces Marten de Roon.

20. 80'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Rafa.

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