Ronaldo’s struggles papered over by Varela’s late winner in Lviv

The Porto forward smashed home the winner having come on just four minutes earlier after Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo had missed two straightforward opportunities to put the result beyond Denmark.

Portugal’s chances had looked remote with just three minutes remaining after they squandered a two-goal lead.

Goals from Pepe and Helder Postiga had Paulo Bento’s side coasting but Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner appeared to have secured a point as he continued his remarkable scoring spree against the Portuguese with both of his country’s efforts to take his tally to six in five matches against their European rivals.

The win gave Portugal their first points of the tournament and ensured they go to the last match still in with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

Portugal took the lead from a 24th-minute corner, Nani’s inswinging cross picking out the run of the unmarked Pepe and the defender’s glancing header beat goalkeeper Stephan Anderson at his near post.

Portugal doubled their lead 12 minutes later. Simon Kjaer’s clearance from Fabio Coentrao’s cross only reached Joao Pereira who quickly transferred the ball to Nani and his incisive pass was smartly converted by Postiga.

Goalkeeper Rui Patricio was helpless to prevent the Danes from pulling a goal back four minutes before half-time.

Jakob Poulsen’s hanging cross to the far post picked out Michael Krohn-Dehli who headed back across goal for Bendtner to nod home his 19th international goal in his 50th appearance.

Five minutes into the second half after Kjaer’s misjudgement of Nani’s crossfield pass, Ronaldo raced clear but shot too close to Andersen.

Ronaldo’s frustrating tournament continued as, put clean through by Nani, he shot wide with only Andersen to beat.

He was punished for that mistake as Bendtner’s far-post header proved too powerful for Patricio but Varela smashed home a late winner.