Denmark Stuns Portugal in UEFA Nations League Upset; Sweden and Austria Advance

New Delhi, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : In a thrilling night of UEFA Nations League action, Denmark delivered a stunning 4-1 victory over Portugal, keeping their hopes alive in Group A4. The match, held on November 15, showcased remarkable performances, particularly from Denmark’s Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg and Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojbjerg opened the scoring with a penalty in the first half. Shortly after halftime, Hojlund extended the lead to 2-0 with a volley following a brilliant setup from Gustav Isaksen. Hojlund then added a third goal, skillfully finishing past goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Joachim Andersen capped off the scoring with a header, making it 4-0. Bernardo Silva managed to pull one back for Portugal, but they had already secured their place in the quarter-finals.

Norway also made headlines, defeating Wales 3-1. Star striker Erling Haaland scored his 23rd Nations League goal from the penalty spot, further solidifying his status as the competition’s all-time leading scorer. Wales struggled offensively, with Daniel James’s shot being their only effort on target in the first half. After halftime, Antonio Nusa gave Norway the lead with a stunning goal, and he later assisted substitute Andreas Schjelderup. David Brooks pulled one back for Wales, but Haaland’s decisive penalty sealed the victory. Norway will face Denmark in a crucial Scandinavian derby on Tuesday.

In Solna, Sweden triumphed over Bosnia and Herzegovina to win Group B4 and earn promotion to League A. Daniel Svensson scored the opener, followed by Victor Gyökeres, who converted two penalties, marking his eighth consecutive game with a goal—a new record. Bosnia’s Armin Gigović responded, and Sead Kolašinac scored his first international goal in his 74th match. Despite the loss, Bosnia secured a playoff spot.

Austria also celebrated success, defeating the Republic of Ireland thanks to a late goal from Sasa Kalajdzik. This crucial strike, just 11 minutes before the final whistle, propelled Austria to the top of Group B3, five points clear of second-placed Kosovo.

Northern Ireland edged out Ukraine at home with a second-half goal from Terry Devlin, putting them ahead of Hungary in Group B2. Hungary managed to secure a win against Georgia, scoring two late goals.