A late goal from substitute Rasmus Hojlund secured a crucial 1-0 victory for Denmark over Portugal in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final clash at Parken Stadium on Thursday.
However, the Manchester United forward’s subsequent celebration, mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘sui’ move, has ignited a flurry of discussion.
The match, played in front of a passionate crowd of 36,322, saw Denmark dominate proceedings despite a missed first-half penalty from Christian Eriksen.
Hojlund, who entered the fray as a second-half substitute, broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, calmly slotting home a cross from Andreas Skov Olsen.
Following his decisive strike, Hojlund performed Ronaldo’s signature celebration, raising questions about its intent.
However, speaking to Danish broadcaster TV2, Hojlund was quick to dispel any notion of mockery.
“It was not to mock him or anything,” he clarified. “I’ve always said he has had great importance for me and my football career. I’m playing against the world’s best footballer, my idol, and to score and become the [match] winner, it couldn’t be better. Scoring against him and Portugal is huge. I went to see him in 2009, where he scored from a free-kick, and I’ve been a fan ever since.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, who played the full 90 minutes for Portugal, struggled to make an impact, with his only notable contribution a header that sailed wide.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, now playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, was largely kept quiet by the Danish defense.
Denmark’s victory, under the guidance of new manager Brian Riemer, was well-deserved.
Christian Eriksen’s missed penalty, saved superbly by Diogo Costa, initially threatened to derail the home side’s momentum.
However, they continued to press, with Eriksen also having a shot cleared off the line by his Manchester United teammate Diogo Dalot.
Hojlund’s goal marked his second consecutive scoring appearance, following his goal against Leicester in the Premier League last weekend, ending a 21-game drought.
The result leaves Portugal facing an uphill battle in the second leg, scheduled for Sunday in Lisbon. The loser of the tie faces the prospect of joining Scotland’s World Cup qualifying group, alongside Greece and Belarus.
