Home Football Italy Draw 3-3 with Germany in Nations League Quarter-Final, but Germany Progress on Aggregate; Ronaldo Misses Penalty but Scores for Portugal in Dramatic Win

Italy Draw 3-3 with Germany in Nations League Quarter-Final, but Germany Progress on Aggregate; Ronaldo Misses Penalty but Scores for Portugal in Dramatic Win

by Osmond OMOLU
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Italy suffered a frustrating blow in their Nations League quarter-final against Germany, drawing 3-3 in the second leg, but ultimately falling short on aggregate, with Germany progressing 5-4. The Azzurri were undone by a bizarre moment, as they switched off during a corner and conceded an embarrassing goal, allowing Germany to capitalize on a quick-thinking move.

With Germany leading 1-0 in the match, Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a brilliant save, tipping Tim Kleindienst’s header over the bar for a corner. However, Donnarumma appeared to lose focus, stepping out of his six-yard box and engaging in an argument with his defenders.

While Italy was distracted, Joshua Kimmich took advantage of the situation, delivering a quick corner to an unmarked Jamal Musiala, who calmly slotted the ball into an empty net. The goal stood because there is no offside rule at corner kicks, leaving the Italian defense shell-shocked.

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The strange moment also introduced a young hero in the form of 15-year-old ball boy, Noel Urbaniack, who helped Kimmich with the fast delivery of the ball. In recognition of his quick thinking, Urbaniack was gifted a signed ball by the German team.

“I can’t believe it. This is my first time as a ball boy, and I’ve never been part of something like this,” Urbaniack said, clearly overjoyed. “We made eye contact, and I saw he needed the ball, so I threw it to him as fast as I could.”

Germany’s dominance continued as Kimmich scored a penalty in the 30th minute, followed by Musiala’s second goal just six minutes later. Kleindienst added a third just before halftime, giving Germany a comfortable 3-0 lead.

However, Italy mounted a spirited comeback in the second half. Former Everton striker Moise Kean scored twice, and Giacomo Raspadori converted a last-minute penalty to level the score at 3-3. Despite the dramatic fightback, Italy was unable to overcome the deficit from the first leg, exiting the competition with a 5-4 aggregate loss. Germany now advances to the Nations League finals, which they will host in June.

Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Penalty but Helps Portugal Beat Denmark in Extra-Time

Meanwhile, in another dramatic quarter-final, Cristiano Ronaldo had a mixed performance for Portugal, missing a penalty early in the match before scoring later to help secure a 5-3 aggregate victory over Denmark. The game saw plenty of twists, with Portugal eventually emerging victorious after extra time.

In the sixth minute, Ronaldo was awarded a penalty after being fouled by Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu. However, the 40-year-old’s spot-kick was saved by Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who denied him a chance to give Portugal an early lead.

Despite the early miss, Ronaldo was not to be outdone. In the 72nd minute, he found the back of the net from a tight angle, giving Portugal a 2-1 lead. He then performed his signature ‘Sui’ celebration, which had been recently copied by Denmark’s Rasmus Højlund in the first leg.

However, Denmark quickly responded, with Christian Eriksen scoring an equalizer just four minutes later, leaving Portugal on the verge of elimination. Yet, Francisco Trincao came to the rescue, scoring an 86th-minute goal to put Portugal ahead 3-2, forcing the match into extra time.

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Ronaldo was substituted in the 89th minute and watched from the bench as Trincao scored again in the 91st minute, giving Portugal a 4-2 lead. Gonçalo Ramos, who replaced Ronaldo, sealed the win with a fifth goal in the 115th minute, securing a 5-3 aggregate victory for Portugal.

The win means Portugal will now face Germany in the Nations League semi-finals, which will be held in June, with Germany set to host the prestigious tournament.

Nations League 2025 Finals Set to Be Unforgettable

With Italy and Portugal’s dramatic exits, Germany and Portugal join Spain and France in the Nations League finals. Germany will host the finals between June 4 and June 8, with the semi-finals set to be thrilling encounters. Germany will face Portugal in one semi-final at Munich’s Allianz Arena on June 4, while Spain will take on France at the MHPArena in Stuttgart on June 5. The third-place play-off and final will be played on June 8 in Stuttgart and Munich, respectively.

The road to the finals promises to be exciting, with Germany, Portugal, Spain, and France all eager to claim the Nations League trophy.

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