Denmark defeated Portugal 1-0 in their Nations League quarterfinal first-leg match thanks to a goal from Rasmus Hojlund.

On a night when they outplayed Roberto Martinez’s team, the Manchester United forward scored from the bench to split the teams in Copenhagen on Thursday and give Denmark the final touch they had been lacking.

The Spanish coach selected veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, upfront, but the Al Nassr striker was mostly frozen out of the game.

Winners of the inaugural tournament in 2019, Portugal are aiming to become the first team to lift the Nations League trophy for a second time.

However, they will need to improve swiftly to reach the semifinals as Denmark outclassed them and could have scored more on the night.

Looking for their first win under coach Brian Riemer, who was appointed in October, the Danes were without injured captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Denmark piled on the pressure from the start, with debutant Mika Biereth charging down Diogo Costa’s clearance, but the goalkeeper managed to escape by conceding only a corner.

Jesper Lindstrom forced Costa into action again with an effort from a distance, while Pedro Neto tested Kasper Schmeichel at the other end.

The hosts won a penalty when Portugal defender Renato Veiga handled the ball but Costa produced a superb save to deny Christian Eriksen.

The Porto goalkeeper, an expert in saving spot kicks, dived low to his right to thwart the Manchester United midfielder.

As Denmark turned the tide, Costa kept his team level with another incredible save from Biereth.

After a strong effort by Gustav Isaksen, Diogo Dalot was in the right position at the right time to clear Eriksen’s effort off the line just before halftime when the home team eventually defeated Costa.

Although Vitinha came close for Portugal, who displayed sporadic bursts of their talent during an otherwise lackluster performance, Costa saved an Eriksen free kick to keep Riemer’s team ahead in the second half.

As Denmark began to worry that their dominance would not translate into a lead, Isaksen, a constant threat for the country, had a shot deflected behind. But Hojlund, who was on as a stand-in, had different plans.

The striker, who scored in his team’s victory over Leicester City last weekend, broke the tie by slotting home to complete a brilliant move.

In the 78th minute, Eriksen passed the ball to Andreas Skov Olsen, another substitute, who found Hojlund with a low shot and finished coolly.