Ronaldo leads Portugal past , into Nations League final 6j2ks

MUNICH (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has led Portugal to its first win over in 25 years. 162o18

The 40-year-old Ronaldo captained the team and scored his 137th international goal as Portugal came from behind to beat 2-1 in Munich in their Nations League semifinal on Wednesday.

It was Portugal’s first win in since a World Cup qualifier in Stuttgart in October 1985 — some six months after a future superstar was born in Madeira.

On his record-extending 220th appearance, Ronaldo became the oldest player to ever score against while ending his “curse.” The former Real Madrid star lost each of the previous five games he’d played against .

Portugal hadn’t beaten since a 3-0 victory at Euro 2000, when Sérgio Conceição scored a hat trick.

On Wednesday, Conceição’s son — 22-year-old Francisco Conceição — pulled Portugal level just five minutes after making his entrance with a brilliant long-range strike inside the far post after he surged past Robin Gosens like he wasn’t there.

Liverpool target Florian Wirtz had given a 48th-minute lead with a perfectly placed header inside the right post, but Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made his changes count as he brought on Conceição and Champions League winner Vitinha among the substitutes.

Vitinha excelled as Portugal finished the game in the ascendancy just four days after he helped Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League final against Inter Milan in the same stadium on Saturday.

needed goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen at his best to prevent the visitors from scoring any more.

PSG wing backs João Neves and Nuno Mendes both started for Portugal, while Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade started for his debut.

Conceição made his mark in the 63rd. Mendes gave Ronaldo a simple finish five minutes after that.

“It could have been more,” Mendes said.

plays Spain in Stuttgart on Thursday in the other semifinal.

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