International Football: Cristiano Ronaldo's 901st Goal Sinks Scotland

Cristiano Ronaldo showed yet again why he's still one of football's most dangerous predators, scoring his 901st career goal to hand Portugal a hard-fought victory over Scotland in the Nations League. The 39-year-old, who recently made the move to the Saudi Pro League, celebrated as though it was his first-ever goal, racing to the corner flag to perform his iconic celebration. His passion and hunger for goals remain undiminished.

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Coming off the bench at half-time with Scotland 1-0 up, Ronaldo took over, hitting both posts before eventually scoring the winner. His determination and fiery spirit were on full display, as he gestured furiously to the referee and his teammates, and even dodged a pitch invader at one point.

Scotland, meanwhile, became the 48th international side to fall victim to Ronaldo’s brilliance. Despite the defeat, there are bigger concerns for Steve Clarke’s side. Scotland have now conceded 33 goals in their last 14 games, including five in their last two matches. Even more troubling, they’ve allowed goals after the 85th minute in five of their last six games, signalling a worrying trend of late-game collapses.

Clarke acknowledged the challenges, noting the team is in a transitional phase. "We have to understand what part of the cycle we're in," Clarke said post-match, alluding to the rebuilding process following a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign. The shift from a back five to a 4-2-3-1 formation has shown some promise, especially in attack, with Scotland enjoying a strong spell after Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser. However, the defence remains porous.

The introduction of youngsters like Ryan Gauld, Ben Doak, and Tommy Conway signals a shift in approach ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifiers. Clarke described the changes as “evolution, not revolution,” but with only one win in 14 games and the clock ticking towards the next tournament, time is running out to solidify the team. Scotland must tighten up defensively if they are to compete against top-tier opposition.

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