Cristiano Ronaldo scores hat-trick as Portugal defeat Switzerland to reach Nations League final

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a hat-trick against Switzerland to help Portugal qualify for the final of the inaugural Nations League.

Misses from Xherdan Shaqiri and Haris Seferović prevented Switzerland from taking the lead on numerous occasions in the game that was played in Porto.

A smart free-kick from Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead on the 25th minute.

In the second half, a VAR decision awarded Switzerland a penalty. Ricardo Rodríguez stepped up and kept his cool to fire home which saw his team equalize.

In the 88 minute, Ronaldo got hold of the ball and swept pass defence to restore Portugal’s lead.

A minute later, Ronaldo completed a hat-trick with sublime piece of footwork and a beautiful curling finish to send Portugal into the final.

After the game, Portugal’s manager Fernando Santos was full of praise for his talisman.

“In terms of adjectives to describe Ronaldo’s game – I’ve used many. I was his coach in 2003 and I could see where he’d go,” he said, via UEFA.

“He’s a genius. There’s genius paintings and sculptures and he’s a football genius.”

“When someone scores three goals, they are the difference maker. It was tough game, it was well played – two sides who are very strong, playing to win,” he said.

“They’re strategically well organised, changing their formation. Their players know what they have to do on the pitch, limiting some of the gaps we’d thought about.”