Rasmus Hojlund scored the only goal in Denmark’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg. The Manchester United striker’s celebration, which mimicked Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu,’ caught the attention of fans and the media alike. Ronaldo watched as Hojlund performed the trademark move, which involves jumping, spinning, and landing with arms outstretched.
Hojlund’s Explanation for the Celebration
In a post-match interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, Hojlund explained that his celebration was a tribute to his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. “It’s for my idol. It wasn’t to mock him or anything,” Hojlund clarified. “He has had such a huge impact on me and my football career. Maybe it’s a bit ambivalent, but to score against him and Portugal, it’s huge.”
Hojlund recalled watching Ronaldo score a free kick in 2011, an event that inspired his admiration for the Portuguese star.
A Positive Turn for Hojlund’s Career
Hojlund’s goal was his second in two matches, following a Premier League goal for Manchester United against Leicester. This marked a promising turn after a tough season where he had gone 21 appearances without scoring.
Bruno Fernandes Expresses Frustration with Portugal’s Performance
Despite Portugal’s loss, captain Bruno Fernandes was determined to stay positive. “We weren’t surprised, we knew they were aggressive and that they would come out strong,” Fernandes said after the match. “We lacked aggression and needed to be smarter in exploiting space. We have a difficult game ahead of us, but with our fans at home, we are confident we can turn it around.”
In this match, Denmark leads Portugal 1-0 ahead of the second leg in Lisbon.
