Portugal’s Bernardo Silva scored a fine individual goal when their new appearance was restored to win 3-2 away to Poland in the UEFA Nations League with an impressive performance on Thursday. Andre Silva’s strike and a Kamil Glik own goal put the European champions on for half past after Krzysztof Piatek had given Poland an early lead and Bernardo Silva was then taken at the start of the second half of the League A Group 3 game.

Poland, replaces Jakub Blaszczykowski, making his 103rd appearance to be his country’s most limited player, pulled a goal back, but it was not enough for the hosts. It was also an unfortunate 100th Poland appearance for Robert Lewandowski, who almost did not have a touch of the ball. After two matches, Portugal is at the top of the group with six points, while Poland and Italy have a piece.

Portugal, rebuilding their team after another round of World Cup exit, omitted a number of old favorites, including Joao Moutinho, Jose Fonte, and Ricardo Quaresma. Captain and all-time leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was also absent from what coach Fernando Santos said was mutual consent, although he is expected to be revoked next year. Piatek, scoring nine goals in seven Serie A matches in Genoa in this season struck an early blow when he jumped Joao Cancelo at the far post and led Poland ahead of a corner 18 minutes.

But after that, it was primarily one-way traffic when Portugal took control. Andre Silva settled down after 31 minutes, turning into Pizzi’s low cross after a successful move down to the right of his 14th goal in 29 appearances.

Ruben Neves raised the other with a majestic long ball inside of his own half, who captured the Polish defense. Rafa Silva came to the end and his first hand took him past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski before Glik put the ball into his own net. Seven minutes after half-time, Bernardo Silva came close to the sidelines, slipped in a crossbar, and crossed the edge of the penalty area, scoring a low shot past Fabianski. Portugal continued to dominate even after Blaszczykowski’s goal and Renato Sanches was twice close to a fourth for the visitors.