Portugal v Scotland: Nations League – live

9.50pm BST

Another game, another late blow for Scotland. Once again they played well in patches – and Scott McTominay’s opener was superb – but defensive lapses did for them. Thing is, even though Angus Gunn should have saved Bruno Fernandes’s equaliser, he was otherwise Scotland’s man of the match, making three outrageous saves among a series of other fine stops and interventions. So Scotland can’t say that the winner, late though it was, hadn’t been coming. Portugal deserved their victory on the balance of play and sheer number of chances created. Without Gunn’s heroics, the hosts would have had at least a couple more.

9.44pm BST

In the other game in A1, Croatia have beaten Poland 1-0 thanks to a 52nd-minute Luka Modrić goal. All of which means the table looks like this …

1. Portugal P2 W2 D0 L0 F4 A2 Pts 6

2. Croatia P2 W1 D0 L1 F2 A2 Pts 3

3. Poland P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3 Pts 3

4. Scotland P2 W0 D0 L2 F3 A5 Pts 0

… leaving Scotland in all sorts of bother.

9.41pm BST

FULL TIME: Portugal 2-1 Scotland

Some eejit comes racing onto the pitch in the hope of meeting Ronaldo, and is bundled off to the cells. Then the whistle goes, and Ronaldo celebrates. More disappointment for Scotland after another semi-promising showing.

9.40pm BST

90 min +4: Morgan picks out McTominay on the edge of the Portugal box. McTominay’s shot is deflected out for a corner, the ball ushered out by Morgan … who is then flagged offside. So no corner for Scotland, and no late reprieve.

9.38pm BST

90 min +2: Doak tries to skedaddle down the left, but who’s that tracking back? Ronaldo, that’s who. Strange the boost of energy scoring one’s 901st goal gives you.

9.36pm BST

90 min +1: The first of five additional minutes sees McGinn replaced by Doak.

9.36pm BST

90 min: Scotland win a corner down the left. Gilmour takes, but Scotland push and shove too eagerly in the box and the whistle goes.

9.35pm BST

89 min: McKenna was snoozing a bit there. Then again, it was a vicious cross along the corridor of uncertainty.

9.34pm BST

GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Scotland (Ronaldo 88)

Yeah, well, to be fair, this had been coming. Nuno Mendes crosses from the left. Jota extends a leg but misses the ball. Ronaldo, just behind him, doesn’t. He taps home, and it’s more late heartbreak for Scotland.

Updated at 9.43pm BST

9.33pm BST

87 min: Morgan replaces Christie.

9.32pm BST

85 min: Ralston is booked for time-wasting as Portugal continue to push Scotland back. The visitors really clinging on here. But those two saves by Gunn: wow! A huge strong hand to stop Felix’s header, then a last-ditch scoop off the line to deny Felix bundling Ronaldo’s header into the net.

9.31pm BST

83 min: Portugal immediately come again, and Ronaldo, found free six yards out by Fernandes’s scooped pass, aims a header towards the left-hand side of the net … and off the inside of the post! Felix should bundle home, but hesitates, and Gunn flaps away. What a save! Again!

9.30pm BST

82 min: Dalot twists Robertson down the right and cuts back for Felix, whose diving header towards the bottom right is brilliantly parried by Gunn. The ball squirts right for Ronaldo, who hits the post!

9.26pm BST

80 min: Fernandes is booked for flapping his gums at the referee, having just fouled McGinn. He keeps on going, too, but eventually calms down before talking himself into serious trouble.

9.24pm BST

79 min: That was a gorgeous move by Portugal, though, and came about because Scotland started sitting back again, like they did at the start of the half. And look how that ended up.

9.24pm BST

78 min: Portugal open Scotland up with some pretty triangles down the inside-left channel. Ronaldo’s back-heel finds Felix free. He’s one on one with Gunn and looks for the bottom right. Gunn sticks out a leg and blocks brilliantly. That’s made up for the mistake he made for the equaliser. The keeper back in credit tonight!

9.21pm BST

76 min: Nélson Semedo is replaced by Diogo Dalot.

9.19pm BST

74 min: McLean goes down and requires some treatment. Ronaldo suggests some time-wasting is going on. Robertson has his say too, and the referee tells them both to zip it. McLean can’t continue, though, and is replaced by Gauld, while Conway comes on for Dykes.

9.18pm BST

72 min: The crowd give Gunn the what-for as he takes an age over distributing the ball. Scotland are doing a good job of frustrating Portugal, who were flying during the moments leading up to their goal, but have been strangely subdued since.

9.16pm BST

70 min: Scotland are back in this game. McTominay and Ralston battle down the right to win a corner. The set piece is only half cleared. Ralston meets it on the edge of the D, but blazes wildly over, and in any case McKenna had clattered Costa so the whistle goes to release the pressure on the hosts.

9.14pm BST

68 min: Rúben Neves is booked for a clip on McGinn. Then Portugal make a double change, swapping out Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leão for João Félix and João Neves.

9.13pm BST

66 min: McTominay has a dig from distance. Diogo Costa claims easily enough. Portugal counter, Diogo Jota dribbling into the box and going over, but Gunn, spread at his feet, didn’t touch him. A quick VAR check confirms.

Updated at 9.13pm BST

9.12pm BST

65 min: A bigger penalty shout by Scotland this time, as McTominay’s shot from a tight angle on the right is blocked. Christie picks up the rebound and slams the ball goalwards. It pings off António Silva’s chest and then caroms off Nélson Semedo. Did it hit an arm? Scotland say yes. Referee and VAR say no. The replays favour the latter.

9.10pm BST

64 min: Scotland win a corner down the right. They do nothing with it, but this is much better: they’ve responded well to conceding the equaliser.

9.09pm BST

63 min: Robertson slips a diagonal pass infield from the left for Gilmour, who tries to break into the box but falls and surfs the turf on the old nips. The crowd scream for a penalty, with António Silva right behind him, but Silva nicked the ball and there wasn’t much contact anyway. Gilmour doesn’t claim, which speaks volumes.

9.08pm BST

61 min: Some medical attention for the poor referee, who has run slap-bang into Hanley and taken a whack upside the head. An ice cube is pressed on his temple. He’s fine to continue.

9.06pm BST

60 min: … so having said that, McGinn shows in attack on the left and is brought down by Nélson Semedo. Gilmour floats the free kick into the Portugal box, and though the ball pinballs around, it doesn’t drop to Scottish feet.

9.05pm BST

59 min: “Nice to see Scotland giving the grass a chance to recover at the other end of the pitch,” notes a tinder-dry Jake Robertson. Scotland had some sort of threat on the counter during the first half. Now they’re offering nothing. Time for Ben Doak, perhaps?

9.03pm BST

57 min: Ronaldo sashays in from the right and aims for the top left. He finds the top left of the stand behind the goal. “I reckon your empty half-time postbag is a timing-of-the-game thing,” begins Scott Blair. “I want to stress unreservedly, and without fear of let or hindrance, that I am not a stereotypical Scottish person. However, when this game kicked off I had just about dealt with my hangover from Saturday, and I’m working on Monday. It’s simply not natural.”

9.01pm BST

56 min: To be fair, Fernandes did give that a good whack, but you’d still expect your keeper to parry or turn the ball around the post. A shame for Gunn, who made a couple of fine stops in the first half.

9.00pm BST

GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Scotland (Fernandes 54)

This had been coming. A cutback from the left by Leão. From the edge of the D, Fernandes hits a first-time shot towards the bottom right. Gunn should save but his hand isn’t strong this time, and the shot squeaks into the corner.

Updated at 9.15pm BST

8.59pm BST

53 min: Ronaldo claims a tug on the jersey by McKenna, but the referee’s not interested. Portugal come again, and Fernandes crosses dangerously from the right. Gunn punches clear confidently, but the hosts have started the second half as they finished the first: pinning Scotland back.

8.57pm BST

52 min: Ronaldo makes a run down the right. Danger here, but he flashes his shot into the side netting.

8.57pm BST

51 min: Robertson goes in late on Rúben Neves, half tackle, half slip. It didn’t look deliberate, but it was clumsy. A yellow card, and there’s no argument from Scotland’s captain, who apologises.

8.55pm BST

49 min: Scotland continue to sit deep. The away supporters entertain themselves with a loud version of Flower of Scotland. They give it laldie . Always enjoy yourself when the going is good.

8.53pm BST

47 min: Portugal are immediately on the front foot. Nélson Semedo and Jota combine down the right but can’t get the better of McGinn and Gilmour. António Silva then dribbles dangerously down the inside-left channel, but runs out of space in the Scottish box.

8.51pm BST

Portgual get the second half underway, having made two changes. Cristiano Ronaldo and Rúben Neves come on for João Palhinha and Pedro Neto.

8.42pm BST

Our half-time postbag isn’t exactly bulging at the seams, but here it is anyway. “Good to have the jaws of victory stretched open and wide for inspection by Scotspeople everywhere, before the inevitable snatching arrives. McTominay’s fine goal has made those teeth shine brighter, while it lasts” – Justin Kavanagh

8.41pm BST

Half-time statistical breakdown.

• Portugal shots at goal: 16

• Portugal shots on target: 3

• Scotland shots at goal: 1

• Scotland shots on target: 1

8.34pm BST

HALF TIME: Portugal 0-1 Scotland

Of all footballing nations on earth, Scotland know not to count their chickens. And yet it should still be acceptable to say the following: well, well, well.

8.33pm BST

45 min: There will be one additional first-half minute.

8.32pm BST

44 min: Leao has the chance to tee up Neto, but opts to drag a shot wide left. Neto is not happy.

8.32pm BST

43 min: Bernardo Silva jinks and spins elegantly down the left and chips a cross into the middle. Scotland half clear, but the ball drops to Fernandes on the edge of the D. He absolutely blooters a volley goalwards, but McKenna takes it flush in the chest to stop what would have been almost certainly a spectacular goal. What bravery!

8.29pm BST

41 min: Leão has been torturing Ralston, so Christie comes across to help this time. The plan works, too, with Leão clumsily running the ball out of play after finding there’s no opportunity to cross.

8.27pm BST

39 min: Christie is booked for upending an in-flight Nuno Mendes. As tackles from behind go, you can’t get much more agricultural, and there are no arguments. “This is just the same hope/disappointment cycle stretched out longer,” suggests James Humphries. “Though to be fair, losing at home to Poland then somehow mugging Portugal away (to, inevitably, miss out by one or two points in the end) would be Peak Scotland.”

8.25pm BST

37 min: From 25 yards, Nuno Mendes sends a dipping, bouncing, skimming shot inches wide of the right-hand post. Gunn had it covered, just, but Portugal have come close on a few occasions now. Scotland holding onto their lead with grim determination.

8.24pm BST

36 min: Robertson swings it in. McLean competes too hard and the whistle goes for a free kick.

8.23pm BST

35 min: Scotland enjoy a couple of minutes of possession. Enough to frustrate Portugal into skittling Dykes out on the right touchline. A free kick and a chance to load the box.

8.21pm BST

33 min: Nélson Semedo crosses from the right, forcing McKenna to head out for another corner. The set piece is sent backwards for Mendes, who hoicks a dreadful shot a long way wide left.

8.19pm BST

31 min: Fernandes, quarterbacking from deep on the right, wedges a diagonal defence-splitting pass towards Jota, who stoops and steers a powerful header towards the bottom right. Gunn with another strong hand, another fine save.

8.18pm BST

29 min: To be fair, a composite player made up with bits of Lilian Thuram, Carlos Alberto and Cafu would struggle to cope with Rafael Leão in this mood. Poor Ralston has a job on tonight.

8.16pm BST

27 min: Leao dinks infield for António Silva, who should work Gunn at the very least, but eyebrows over the bar from ten yards.

8.14pm BST

26 min: In fact, Leao is less giving Ralston the runaround than simply ignoring his existence. He’s been excellent so far.

Updated at 8.19pm BST

8.12pm BST

24 min: Steve Clarke is told to pipe down by the referee, the result of a long tactical exposition directed at Ralston, who is being given the runaround by Leao.

8.11pm BST

22 min: Robertson’s delivers the free kick towards a non-existent player to the right of the Portuguese goal. The hosts counter, the ever-dangerous Leao zipping down the left and cutting back for Jota, who scoops a shot over the bar from 12 yards. Portugal repeatedly knocking on the door.

8.09pm BST

21 min: Nothing comes of the resulting corner. Scotland go up the other end through the big-leggy McTominay, who is eventually upended 25 yards from goal, just to the left of centre.

8.08pm BST

20 min: Leao drives in from the left and whistles a low drive towards the bottom-left corner. It’s flying in, but Gunn gets down to tip around the post with a strong hand. The keeper’s had his critics, sometimes deservedly so, but that’s a world-class stop. Leao’s shot looked in all the way.

8.06pm BST

18 min: McKenna goes long in the hope of releasing Dykes down the left. Costa comes to the edge of his box to collect.

8.04pm BST

17 min: Neto crosses from the left. Antonio Silva heads over. Scotland take a while over the resulting goal kick, which generates much irate whistling from the home crowd. Scotland will be delighted at the way things have gone so far.

Updated at 8.05pm BST

8.03pm BST

15 min: Robertson steals the ball in Scotland territory and McTominay romps forward on the counter. The ball’s shifted to Ralston, overlapping on the right, but the pass isn’t a good one. He crosses but the ball clanks back off him and out for a goal kick. That attack, with Portugal light at the back, promised more. Not Ralston’s fault. He’s much better in attack than defence.

8.01pm BST

13 min: Fernandes is fouled by Ralston in midfield. While the pair jabber at each other, Leao is sent scampering down the left, chasing a quick free kick. His shot-cum-cross is deflected out for a corner, from which nothing comes. Portugal have responded to conceding by coming back at Scotland hard .

7.58pm BST

11 min: Leao certainly has the beating of Ralston down the left. He reaches the byline and tugs back for Jota, who can’t force a shot goalwards. Scotland clear. Portugal are going to cause a lot of bother along this flank.

7.57pm BST

9 min: That’s McTominay’s 11th goal for Scotland. It’s nearly immediately cancelled out by Leao, who burns past Ralston, Gilmour and Hanley down the left and flashes a shot into the side netting. Gunn had it covered, but what a run.

7.56pm BST

GOAL! Portugal 0-1 Scotland (McTominay 7)

A shock! Scotland score! Not so much a shock: it’s McTominay who scores it. Portugal only half-clear a free kick. The ball’s picked up by McLean on the left. He curls a majestic cross into the box. McTominay, timing his run perfectly from behind a static back line, arrives on the edge of the six-yard box from the right and powers a header across Diogo Costa and into the top left! What a fine goal!

Updated at 8.06pm BST

7.54pm BST

6 min: Fernandes dinks a clever pass infield from the left. Silva shuttles it further towards the centre for Jota, who can’t quite sort his feet out on the edge of the box and hooks a shot wide right.

Updated at 7.54pm BST

7.52pm BST

5 min: … nothing much. But that’s a decent couple of minutes for Scotland, who hadn’t had much of a sniff beforehand. Hopefully it’ll settle them.

7.52pm BST

4 min: McTominay takes a quick free kick in the middle of the park and sends McGinn skittering off down the left. The referee considers pulling play back – the ball was probably rolling when McTominay took the free kick – but decides against it, and McGinn wins a corner. That corner leads to another, which leads to …

7.50pm BST

2 min: Portgual stroke it around like they own the gaff. Which they sort of do. Bernardo Silva drops deep on the right and tries to find Pedro Neto with a cute pass down the channel but there’s too much on it and it flies through to Gunn. A big gap in the Scotland defence there.

7.48pm BST

Scotland get the ball rolling. The Estádio da Luz making a rare old racket.

7.43pm BST

The teams are out! Portugal wear red and green, while Scotland are in second-choice “light mint blue with purple” which is said to represent [adjusts pince-nez, squints] “a new twist on tartan with fresh colours and a disruptive design randomly placed across the sides and back.” Lord Rosebery will be spinning in his grave. Anyway, once the patriotic folk ditties are warbled, we’ll be up and away.

7.17pm BST

Here’s how A1 stands after the first round of matches. Scotland will visit Croatia and host Portugal during the October break; in November they’ll welcome Croatia to Hampden before travelling to Poland.

1. Poland P1 W1 D0 L0 F3 A2 Pts 3

2. Portugal P1 W1 D0 L0 F2 A1 Pts 3

3. Scotland P1 W0 D0 L1 F2 A3 Pts 0

4. Croatia P1 W0 D0 L1 F1 A2 Pts 0

7.12pm BST

Scotland have lost four of their last five games against Portugal to the aggregate tune of 12-2. The other meeting ended goalless. Their last victory over the Portuguese came in March 1980, Andy Gray, Kenny Dalglish, Steve Archibald and Archie Gemmill scoring the goals in a 4-1 Hampden rout. Here’s what happened the last time everyone met …

Related: Scotland 1-3 Portugal: International friendly — as it happened

7.04pm BST

Team news: Scots unchanged, Ronaldo benched

Scotland pick the same XI that started the Poland game. The public cry out for more Ben Doak and Ryan Gauld but Steve Clarke, ever the showman, keeps ‘em wanting more.

Portugal meanwhile make four changes to their team in the wake of their 2-1 victory over Croatia. Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Dalot get some rest on the bench, while Vitinha and Gonçalo Bernardo Inácio miss out altogether; Nélson Semedo, António Silva, João Palhinha and Diogo Jota step up.

Updated at 7.14pm BST

6.46pm BST

The teams

Portugal: Costa, Semedo, Dias, Silva, Palhinha, Fernandes, Silva, Leão, Mendes, Neto, Jota.

Scotland: Gunn, Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson, Gilmour, McLean, Christie, McTominay, McGinn, Dykes.

Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy).

Updated at 6.50pm BST

6.45pm BST

Preamble

Well, Thursday night didn’t pan out in the ideal manner … though if nothing else events faithfully adhered to traditional character-driven narrative structure: a brave performance, flashes of hope, a twist of the knife at the very end. And so now, having lost what was on paper their easiest fixture in League A1, Scotland are pretty much behind the eight-ball from the get-go. Tonight the task level shifts from easiest to hardest: away to Portugal, the eighth-best side in the world, and one whose line is led by a man who has scored 131 international goals. God speed, Steve. Good luck, gentlemen. Kick-off is at 7.45pm BST. It’s on!

Related: Scotland 2-3 Poland: Nations League – as it happened