Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game as Portugal ran out 1-0 winners against Croatia in an international friendly this evening.

The first real chance of the match fell to the visitors when Fabio Coentrao and Ronaldo exchanged passes before the latter went for goal, but his shot bounced harmlessly wide.

Ronaldo was not to be denied for long, however, and opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Silvio's cross found Silvestre Varela, who back-heeled it for the Madrid man to take a touch and drill it into the bottom corner.

It was almost 2-0 five minutes later when Coentrao's cross again found Ronaldo, but his header bounced off the ground and up onto the bar.

Both sides struggled to create much in the second half, with the first notable opening coming in the 70th minute when Vieirinha beat his man before crossing into the box, only to send the ball behind the waiting Hugo Almeida.

Croatia's best chance of the match came three minutes from time when 16-year-old Alen Halilovic cut inside the box and shot at goal, but Eduardo got a touch on the way through and it went wide.

Neither side could find another goal in the closing stages as Portugal ran out 1-0 victors.