Flag of Portugal

A fluttering Green & Red flag was flying over San Francisco's City Hall today. Our city hall will fly various foreign flags for special occasions like national holidays and visiting foreign dignitaries. So, when I saw today's unfamiliar green and red foreign flag, I did my usual google search to identify the country. After identifying it as the national flag of Portugal, I went on about my daily activities.

Tonight, with my San Francisco Giants looking clueless while down 5-2 in the 8th inning against the worst team in baseball, I turned the channel and tuned into a UEFA Nations League Finals game between Spain and Portugal. Spain leading 2-1 with a little over 30 minutes left in the game. Not being a soccer fan, I was surprisingly locked in and mesmerized by an exciting match of back-and-forth championship competitiveness. Both teams played their hearts out.

Portugal's legendary star, 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, scored off a deflected shot that tied the game 2-2. I thought it was a coincidence me watching a Portugal team after identifying their flag fluttering over our city hall earlier today. But stranger things have happened. So, I continued my cheering for Portugal as regulation time ended, and a penalty shootout ensued. 

Throughout regulation I thought Spain looked the better team, but Portugal looked hungrier. I learned Spain was a defending champion and was likely favored in this match. The two rival teams have a long history against one another with Spain having the winning advantage. 

They have met a total of 41 times, resulting in 6 Portuguese victories, 18 draws, and 17 Spanish victories.

However, on this night, Spain faltered. Portugal won the shootout convincingly with incredible saves and three amazing spot kicks to seal the victory 5-3. 

Congratulations Portugal!

Afterwards, while posting here about this great Portugal sports occasion, I checked to see if perhaps my Giants were able to spot kick a few baseballs out of the ballpark. Wow was I surprised, shocked, elated. Who says rally hats and luck charms are fool's gold.  A foreign flag flies over SF city hall and two sports teams hungry for a win deliver. Thanks Portugal!

Final Score

Giants 6

Rockies 5

note: what I didn't know until later is the soccer match was not a live broadcast. It was a pre-recording from a game played two days ago, but I'll still take the wins. 

*The Giants, who lead the major leagues with 17 one-run wins, are the first team to win six consecutive games by one run since the 1989 California Angels.

Portugal's Nations League win overshadows Ronaldo vs. Yamal - ESPN