Norwich City had three players lining up for Scotland tonight. A star-studded Portugal were faced with a well-drilled Scottish outfit.
The Canaries were heavily represented in the Scotland line-up, with Kenny McLean, Grant Hanley, and Angus Gunn all starting from the offset. Steve Clarke’s side lost 2-1 against Portugal in their Nations League opener, as the latter dominated the majority of the possession from start to finish.
Angus Gunn
Gunn had a particularly great game, especially in the first half. The 28-year-old produced a truly remarkable stop to deny Rafael Leao in the 20th minute. A powerful effort from the AC Milan winger was tipped past the post, as Gunn dived low to the bottom left corner.
The former Manchester City academy ‘keeper commanded his area excellently and made a couple of recoveries for Scotland. A tame effort from Bruno Fernandes exemplified the frustration that the Portuguese team felt in the opening 45. This was dealt with easily as Gunn watched the Manchester United midfielder practically pass it to him.
Diogo Jota, Liverpool’s clinical forward, was also kept out by the 28-year-old in the 31st minute. A header on goal by the Portuguese striker was parried away by Gunn and back into the possession of the Scots.
Gunn punched a cross away from danger in the 53rd minute, with a brave display of goalkeeping maintaining the game at 1-0. But he couldn’t keep Fernandes out the following minute, as the Scot’s diving attempt parried the ball into the back of the net. The Portuguese midfielder blasted a strike from outside the penalty area to level the scoring.
Joao Felix was played through by Cristiano Ronaldo in the 78th minute, with the Chelsea loanee through on goal – a one-on-one opportunity. Gunn bravely closed down the former Benfica star by shutting down the angle and blocking the ball away with a left-legged save.
Phenomenally, the 28-year-old made two exceptional saves to keep Scotland level at 1-1. A close-range headed effort from Felix was kept out by Gunn’s fine reflexes; the second attempt from Ronaldo looked to have looped in, but the Scot clawed it away as the ball bounced back off the right-hand post.
However, Ronaldo punished the Scotland defence to notch his 901st career goal and the eventual winner. Too many chances conceded allowed Portugal to prevail 2-1.
Grant Hanley
Scotland’s defence was very solid in the first half, keeping out the majority of the Portugal side and importantly not conceding. Hanley was a big part in Clarke’s side’s performance. The Norwich centre-back dealt with an early, promising shot from Leao, by blocking it away for a corner.
Dealing with the Serie A winger this effectively was impeccable work from Hanley, as it very much started to feel like the ‘Leao Show’. The number 17 constantly danced his way through the Scotland midfield with ease.
Two important clearances in the second half denied Portugal any sort of lead until Ronaldo’s winner.
Kenny McLean
The midfielder provided Scotland with an assist for their opener. A peach of a cross in the 14th minute, allowed the 32-year-old to pick out Scott McTominay. Napoli’s new signing cleverly deceived his marker and ran into the centre of the box to divert a header into the back of the net.
On the defensive front, McLean also forced Bernardo Silva wide in the first half as the Manchester City star looked certain to cause a threat, if left unattended. This important work pressured Silva into running the ball out for a goal kick.
McLean was subbed in the 74th minute – forced off through an injury concern. This was the first sequence in an extremely stop-start final 15.
Writer’s View
Johannes Hoff Thorup will have been proud of his select players for their performance tonight. A promising display for his defensive options will no doubt remain in the 35-year-old’s mind for when the league season resumes.
Hopefully, McLean’s injury shout will not affect his availability upon return to the Norfolk side. The substitution did look precautionary, but this would be a big miss for Norwich.
The Canaries haven’t looked as inspiring as last season, with a 13th-place Championship position currently being occupied. Having shipped four to Crystal Palace in their mid-week EFL Cup disappointment, Thorup will hope that this has made some of the backline more resolute in their defensive duties.
With Hanley and McLean both 32, the Scottish players have all the experience they need to repeat this performance in a Norwich shirt. Gunn will also need to reflect on this absolutely exceptional performance, in order to prevent a display like the one against Oxford United from repeating.
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