Dalot's brace helps Portugal beat Czech Republic

PRAGUE: Diogo Dalot scored twice as Portugal beat the Czech Republic to keep their chances of making the Nations League finals alive.

Spain's defeat to Switzerland allowed the 2019 champions to move two points clear atop Group A2 as a result.

To get to the finals, Portugal must win their final group game against Spain on Tuesday.

Bruno Fernandes, a teammate of Dalot's at Manchester United, scored the second goal, and Diogo Jota tacked on a late fourth.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who headed a corner into the six-yard box to assist Jota's goal, needed treatment in the opening period after colliding with Tomas Vaclik, the Czech goalkeeper, and taking a punch to the face.

Despite the injury, the forward continued the game.

Fernando Santos' team responded forcefully to losing their previous Nations League match against Switzerland in June, knowing that victory in Prague would increase their chances of qualifying for the match against Spain.

Portugal took the lead thanks to goals from Dalot off a cutback from Rafael Leao and Fernandes off a low cross from Mario Rui.

After Ronaldo was called for a handball, Czech attacker Patrik Schick was unable to lessen the deficit from the penalty spot before halftime.

Due to this, Liverpool's Jota scored with eight minutes left in the game with a header after right-back Dalot had put the game beyond doubt seven minutes after the restart with a brilliant left-footed effort from outside the box.

The Czech Republic finished last in their group and have to defeat Switzerland in their final game to keep from being dropped to League B.

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