Wales began their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 1-0 defeat in Portugal after João Félix’s first-half shot, deflected by Ben Davies, proved decisive in Lisbon.
Craig Bellamy’s side were beaten but remained in contention until the closing stages of a League A contest dominated for long spells by the reigning Nations League holders. Wales had travelled without Joe Rodon, Harry Wilson and goalkeeper Karl Darlow, yet produced a stronger attacking finish after absorbing substantial Portuguese pressure.
The result leaves Wales without a point after their opening fixture of the campaign, with Wales next travelling to Denmark on Sunday.
Deflection separates the sides
Portugal settled after Wales made an initially positive start, with Lewis Koumas involved in the visitors’ early attacking play and Brennan Johnson using his pace to unsettle the home defence.
Danny Ward made a save from Cristiano Ronaldo after 10 minutes, while Rúben Neves went close twice as Portugal established control. Nuno Mendes also caused Wales persistent problems on the left.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half. Félix struck from outside the penalty area and the effort took a slight touch from Wales captain Davies before beating Ward.
Portugal created further opportunities before the interval, with Ronaldo unable to add to the lead. The forward then missed a close-range chance early in the second half, before a later finish was ruled out following a VAR offside review.
Wales had offered little threat at goal during the first half, but the removal of Ronaldo shortly after the disallowed goal coincided with a visible lift for Bellamy’s team. Their counter-attacks became more frequent as the match opened up.
Koumas had been selected after his Liverpool performances in the opening weeks of the season earned him a place in the starting side, according to FA Wales. He was central to Wales’s early attacking play, while a Ben Cabango header was their only first-half effort at goal, the Guardian reported. That contrast with Portugal’s control helps explain why Wales’s late pressure mattered, even though it did not produce an equaliser.
Late Wales pressure offers encouragement
Johnson came closest to an equaliser in the 74th minute, hitting the crossbar from a tight angle. The rebound created further danger, but Rúben Dias blocked attempts as Koumas and substitute Dan James both sought to turn the loose ball home.
That sequence underlined Wales’s improved second-half threat, although Portugal held on to begin their title defence with victory. The Football Association of Wales described Cymru’s display as spirited and said the side would be disappointed not to have taken a point.
Bellamy said afterwards that his players had shown considerable heart against opposition of Portugal’s quality. He also argued that there was more to come from his squad, a judgement supported by the way Wales remained competitive despite the absences with which they entered the international window.
Portugal were beginning their title defence under new head coach Jorge Jesus, according to FA Wales. The visitors were meanwhile playing in League A for only the second time, having earned promotion after an unbeaten campaign in 2024. Those circumstances framed the scale of Wales’s task in Lisbon, where they stayed within a goal of the hosts and created their clearest opening late on.
The performance does not alter the immediate challenge: Wales must convert resilience into a result when they face Denmark. Their previous route into this League A campaign came through promotion from an unbeaten 2024 campaign, and this is their second spell at this level. Against Portugal, they showed enough defensive resolve and late attacking intent to ensure a one-goal defeat, rather than the result alone, provides the relevant measure ahead of the next fixture.
For now, however, Félix’s deflected strike is the margin that separates Wales from an opening Nations League point.