Portugal 3 Switzerland 1: Ronaldo hat-trick puts hosts in Nations League final after incredible VAR drama
CRISTIANO RONALDO'S late double completed a stunning hat-trick as Portugal reached the Nations League final after sensational VAR drama.
Switzerland had levelled with a penalty given on a video replay - which overturned a spot-kick to Portugal from an incident just seconds later.
Ronaldo's first dramatic intervention had sparked and finished off Portugal's opener midway through a tight first half
Slightly fortunate to win a free-kick 25 yards out, the Juventus superstar certainly swerved it past the wall well enough but keeper Yann Sommer was strangely rooted as the ball fizzed in on his side of the goal.
Switzerland had most of the chances and possession before the break, albeit Portugal passing neatly on the counter-attack.
And Ronaldo teed up Benfica's 19-year-old striker Joao Felix for a gaping chance that the Manchester United and City target blazed wide.
But all that went before was overshadowed by a spot of VAR controversy early in a second period that Switzerland began on top and contested keenly throughout.
Referee Felix Brych awarded a blatant penalty when Fabian Schar upended Portugal playmaker Bernardo Silva close to goal - only to finish up giving a spot-kick to Switzerland instead.
Brych went to the sideline monitors to trace play back to the other box - where Semedo had got the faintest of touches on tumbling Swiss midfielder Steven Zuber.
To the shock and anger of home players, Brych not only ruled out Portugal's spot-kick, he also penalised Semeo.
That enabled Ricardo Rodriguez to rifle home a so-so penalty equaliser that went in under the diving body of Rui Patricio.
Switzerland continued to unsettle their more fancied hosts, Zuber drilling one volley wide.
But Ronaldo popped up twice just when it seemed, for once, the maestro might play second fiddle to a monitor.
most read in football
First, he flashed home a right-footer on the turn, courtesy of Silva's unselfish cut-back on 88 minutes.
Then, a minute later, Ronaldo struck last and best, snaking in from the left after a lightning break from Portugal to curve the ball into the far corner.
It's the type of magic England or Holland will somehow need to curtail if they are to lift the Nations League trophy in Sunday's final.