Neves Seals It: Portugal Win Nations League After Penalty Shootout Thriller Against Spain

Portugal beat Spain 5–3 on penalties at the Allianz Arena to win the Nations League for the second time.

It was a thrilling 120 minutes of football in Munich, with the match ending 2–2 after extra time and ultimately being decided from the spot.

Rúben Neves stepped up to take the deciding penalty and confidently smashed his strike into the bottom left-hand corner to seal the victory.

Neves celebrates scoring the winning penalty for Portugal.Photo by Qian Jun/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

Spain had dominated the first half with their energetic press and purposeful build-up play, which resulted in them taking the lead through Martin Zubimendi. However, Portugal briefly responded with a brilliant equaliser from Nuno Mendes, before Pedri set up Martin Oyarzabal to restore La Roja's advantage on the verge of halftime.

Portugal started the second half as the better side and found themselves level once again in the 60th minute, courtesy of captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Both sides searched for a winner in normal time, but their defences remained firm, and the game headed into extra time.

In a heated extra time period, Spain looked a shadow of the side that had dominated the first half, struggling to maintain possession and control. Yet, despite Portugal's pressure, La Roja somehow managed to keep them at bay and send the game to penalties.

Rafael Leao and Neves come together in the box. Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images

Summary 

The main talking point ahead of the game in Munich was the generational clash between 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Both players featured in the starting lineups, having played key roles in their respective semi-finals.

Portugal made two changes to the side that beat Germany 2-1, with Champions League winner Vitinha replacing Rúben Neves in midfield, and Juventus winger Francisco Conceição starting on the right side of Ronaldo in place of Francisco Trincão.

For Spain, Pedro Porro and Mikel Merino dropped to the bench, with Celta Vigo left-back Óscar Mingueza and PSG midfielder Fabián Ruiz coming into the lineup.

It was an intense start to the game, as Spain pressed Portugal high up the pitch. Os Navegadores saw more possession in the opening stages, but they were unable to outmanoeuvre an energetic Spanish side.

Joao Neves on the ball. Photo by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images

The first chance of the match fell to João Neves in the fifth minute, when his volleyed strike bounced wide of the post.

This action seemed to shift the momentum of the game, and Spain began to move the ball with greater purpose.

However, it took eight minutes for them to get a sight of Portugal's goal, with Yamal's quick feet winning a free kick on the edge of the box. The youngster ignored shouts from his teammates to cross the set piece into the box and instead aimed at goal, but his effort went high over the bar.

Spain continued to carve out ways to get in behind Portugal's defence, and Nico Williams found space on the left-hand side before receiving the ball and putting it into the path of Pedri, who was unable to place his strike into the bottom corner.

After looking like the brighter side, Spain soon took the lead through Zubimendi. 

 Oyarzabal produced a stunning flick on the halfway line, opening up space for Zubimendi to drive forward with the ball. The Real Sociedad midfielder then played it out wide to Yamal, whose dink into the box was only half-cleared—allowing Zubimendi to smash the loose ball into the back of the net.

Zubimendi celebrates the opening goal of the game.Photo by Qian Jun/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

Although Portugal had been relatively silent since the opening five minutes, they managed to equalise soon after.

Nuno Mendes received the ball on the left-hand side and shifted it onto his stronger foot before releasing a powerful, low-driven strike that ended up in the far corner.

With the game level, both sides patiently probed each other, but despite the creative build-ups, there were no clear goalscoring opportunities for either team.

On the verge of halftime, Pedri timed his pass perfectly to slide Oyarzabal behind Portugal's defence, and the attacker confidently rolled the ball under Diogo Costa and into the back of the net to help Spain regain the lead.

Oyarzabal helps Spain regain the lead. Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images

La Roja went into halftime with a narrow lead, and Portugal needed to start the second half with greater attacking intent if they wanted to avoid being swept aside.

Just three minutes after the break, Bruno Fernandes briefly thought he had equalised with a strike from range, but Pedro Neto was ruled offside in the build-up.

Portugal continued to move the ball with intent, but Spain's low block was proving difficult to break down.

Fabián Ruiz managed to temporarily push his side up the pitch when his powerful, low-driven strike was pushed away by Costa.

Portugal were persistent, though, and Ronaldo — who had seen little involvement — smashed in the equaliser from close range. 

Mendes capitalised on a miscommunication between Yamal and Óscar Mingueza, skipped past them, and delivered a low cross into the box that was deflected and fell kindly for Ronaldo to tap in at the back post.

Ronaldo celebrates his goal and Portugal's second goal. Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

The feeling around the ground had changed from halftime and Portugal now looked more likely to get themselves ahead. 

Luis de la Fuente sensed the momentum of the game shifting and looked to his bench to help his side regain a foothold.

Isco, who had not been involved in the Spanish national team setup for six years, and Mikel Merino were introduced in place of Fabián Ruiz and Pedri.

The Real Betis midfielder was quickly involved in the action and saw his curled strike from range well saved.

Isco back in action for the Spanish National side after a six-year absence. Photo by Sebastian Widmann - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

With two minutes of the 90 left to play, Unai Simón ensured the game would head to extra time by punching clear Bruno Fernandes' dangerous free kick into the box.

What had been a fairly emotionless match during regular time exploded into a fiery encounter in extra time, with tackles flying in and tempers quickly flaring. 

Rafael Leão, who came on in the 74th minute, was influential in extra time, and Spain were unable to deal with the AC Milan winger.

Leão causing Spain problems down the left-hand side. Photo by Qian Jun/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

Portugal looked dangerous in extra time but were unable to trouble Spain's goalkeeper, with Nélson Semedo's close-range effort early on going wide and Diogo Jota's header also missing the target in the final moments, meaning the game would be decided by penalties.

Alvaro Morata couldn't convert Spain's fourth from the spot which gifted Ruben Neves the opportunity to win the shootout.

The midfielder made no mistake and confidently smashed his penalty into the bottom left-hand corner to win Portugal the Nations League.