PORTUGAL WON THE FIRST EVER INAUGURAL EUROPEAN NATIONS LEAGUE TROPHY — PORTUGAL 1:0 NETHERLANDS

Hosts Portugal guaranteed their second trophy in three years by beating the Netherlands to win the inaugural Nations League. 

The hosts' victory in UEFA's newest competition denied the Netherlands its first trophy since the 1988 European Championship.

The revamped Dutch team was seeking some redemption after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and the 2016 European Championship.

Fernando Santos' side triumphed at the 2016 European Championship and Goncalo Guedes' second half strike gave them a narrow victory in Porto which Santos said was proof of their unity as a group. 

"Throughout the previous five years, we have been a practically indestructible family who comprehend what we can do," he said. "We realized we could win this match." 

The triumph was accomplished through Guedes, the Valencia winger crushing in from the edge of the territory following Bernardo Silva's smart cutback, however Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen will be frustrated he didn't keep the effort out. 

The Dutch hoped to get once more into the game however Memphis Depay's incredible header was very much spared by Wolves number one Rui Patricio and ex-Middlesbrough midfielder Marten de Roon lashed over.

The game was charged on the conflict of the two influential captains- Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk. 

The two players claimed silverware at club level last season, Ronaldo winning the Serie A title with Juventus, while Van Dijk added to closure Liverpool's multi year sit tight for a trophy by triumphing in the Champions League. 

Ronaldo, 34, scored a superb hat-trick in the semi-final triumph over Switzerland however was not able add to his 88 international goals, seeing a thumping, goalbound drive blocked by the towering Van Dijk.

 The closest he came to netting was when he skipped past two defenders from the left, but stuck a shot straight at Barcelona's Cillessen. He also smashed a free-kick wide late on.

Former Southampton and Celtic player Van Dijk was his solid, assured self at the back but could do nothing about the winning goal, though Cillessen was unable to keep out Guedes' strike having got a hand on the effort.
Manchester City's Silva, who set up the goal, said: "I am very happy and very proud. It is my first title with Portugal. After the amazing season with my club, to finish this way is amazing. It is time to rest now and prepare for next season and try to do even better.

"The most important thing is that Portugal won. If you can add to that individual awards, then even better."
Portugal are now unbeaten in their last 10 games and despite defeat, Netherlands - who have failed to reach the last two major tournaments - will take heart from their progress since the appointment of Ronald Koeman as boss.
"They were masters at defending when they were ahead," said Koeman. "We should have been a bit more clever in looking for free kicks. We were not good enough tonight."