Portugal -1 Spain: Late Alvaro Morata strike sees Luis Enrique’s aspect snatch location in the finals

Spain snatched a area in the Nations League last 4 just after striker Alvaro Morata’s late purpose secured a 1- gain above hosts Portugal on Tuesday to ensure major spot in their group.

Portugal dominated the match but Spain stayed in the contest and in the 88th moment Morata lashed the ball household to silence most of the offered-out stadium after a extensive ball into the box from Dani Carvajal was headed back again throughout target by Nico Williams.

Spain concluded major of League A-Group 2 on 11 points from 6 online games, 1 position over 2nd-positioned Portugal who only essential a attract to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring the winning aim towards Portugal on Tuesday

Morata pounced from close variety with two minutes of standard time remaining in the match

The Spaniards be a part of Croatia, Italy and the Netherlands in subsequent year’s finals event.

“It was a difficult activity but I keep with the mind-set of the workforce. We have built a excellent exertion,” Morata instructed reporters.

“If we ended up knocked out it experienced to be by leaving everything on the subject and which is how it was a single far more time for us.

“Just about every time that Spain have to present up in big game titles we do it. That is how we do it and tonight we did it all over again.”

It was a bitter blow for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal who established a number of possibilities, have been in total control during most the activity and seemed so close to securing a area in the finals.

The striker was mobbed by his Spain staff-mates soon after firing them into the finals

The hosts virtually opened the scoring in the 32nd minute by way of Diogo Jota, who been given a long go from Bruno Fernandes and lashed a shot toward the top right corner that Unai Simon kept out with a outstanding a person-handed save.

Fernandes almost scored himself five minutes later on when he rifled a cross shot into the side netting with an effort that was so shut the home admirers imagined it was a goal.

Spain appeared missing and perplexed in what was wanting to be a further lacklustre overall performance following they went down 2-1 at dwelling to Switzerland on Saturday.

Spain manager Luis Enrique sprung a shock with 7 adjustments to his starting lineup, leaving Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pedri and Jordi Alba on the bench.

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t conceal his aggravation immediately after his facet threw the match away 

It was not right until he made four substitutions in the second-half that Spain woke up and bought their initial shot on goal of the activity immediately after 70 minutes by Morata.

The Atletico Madrid forward virtually scored in the 76th moment when he fired a extensive-array shot in the direction of the base ideal corner that Diogo Costa stored out with an excellent just one-handed stop.

Ronaldo tried using really hard to rating but his enjoy was typically erratic and he was unable to successfully website link up with his workforce mates, who held lacking possibilities and left Spain in the sport, enabling Morata to be the hero again with his late winner.

Scroll down to see how it all unfolded with Sportsmail’s reside runner.