Alvaro Morata delivered a dramatic late winner in the 88th minute after a precise cross from Dani Carvajal and a smart assist from Nico Williams, lifting Spain to a 1-0 victory over Portugal at Braga Municipal Stadium. That goal sealed Spain’s ticket to the final stage of the Nations League and confirmed their place in the knockout rounds for a second straight season.
Morata’s strike, his 27th for the national team, broke a tense pattern in which Spain and Portugal had traded dominance but rarely found a breakthrough. The first half saw Spain controlling the tempo but failing to threaten in the final third, with Unai Simón called into action to keep the scores level. The breakthrough finally arrived late in the game, as Spain pressed for second-half control and Morata cashed in on the decisive moment, bending home a finish after a swift build up that began with a goalkeeping clearance by Cristiano Ronaldo’s team and ended with a climactic goal for La Roja.
The match swung on its late-phase dominance, as Spain finally translated their possession into a decisive goal. Morata found the net in a moment of clinical finishing, delivering a knockout blow two minutes before regulation time would otherwise have ended. The victory was secured by a collective defensive effort and goalkeeping that remained resolute under pressure, with Unai Simón again playing a pivotal role in keeping expected threats at bay and ensuring the three points were earned away from home. The significance of this win extended beyond the scoreline, as it reinforced Spain’s standing in European competition and reinforced their momentum heading into the final rounds of the tournament. This result echoes the performance and preparation that underpinned the squad’s recent runs and stands as a testament to the depth and resilience of the Spanish team in crucial qualifying matches. Source: Official match report and national federation records