Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved three penalties to ship his aspect into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in additional time.
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Slovenia, the bottom ranked aspect left within the competitors, had battled their method via a goalless 90 minutes, and went shut themselves via Benjamin Sesko.
Ronaldo – who had seen a number of free-kicks fly off course – then stepped up with a penalty within the first interval of extra-time, however goalkeeper Jan Oblak made an excellent save at full stretch.
Sesko then spurned an opportunity to win it for Slovenia when a slip from veteran defender Pepe noticed him race clear, just for Costa to tug off an excellent block.
Porto keeper Costa then saved all three of Slovenia’s opening spot-kicks, with Ronaldo changing his earlier than Manchester Metropolis midfielder Bernardo Silva slotted within the profitable penalty to safe a quarter-final in opposition to France in Hamburg on Friday.
Seeking to produce a response from the shock defeat to Georgia of their last Group F recreation, Portugal had made a constructive begin.
Rafael Leao’s surging run was halted by a sliding sort out from Vanja Drkusic on the fringe of the penalty space. Ronaldo then despatched the free-kick simply over the crossbar and Joao Palhinha drilled a low 18-yard shot narrowly huge of the far submit.
Early within the second half, Ronaldo was given one other alternative with a free-kick round 20 yards out, which he fired via the wall however straight at Oblak.
Slovenia had made it to the knockout stage on the Euros for the primary time on the again of three battling attracts in Group C, together with holding England to a goalless stalemate in Cologne.
After absorbing a lot strain, Matjaz Kek’s aspect appeared to hit Portugal on the break with Sesko bursting away down the left and into the penalty space – however veteran defender Pepe made up sufficient floor to power the striker to scuff his shot huge.
With two minutes left, substitute Diogo Jota performed Ronaldo into the left aspect of the Slovenia space, however his low shot was too near Oblak because the match went to additional time.
Portugal have been awarded a penalty within the one hundred and fifth minute when Jota charged down the centre and was bundled over by Drkusic.
Ronaldo stepped as much as fireplace the ball in the direction of the underside proper nook – however Atletico Madrid keeper Oblak produced a surprising save at full stretch to push it onto the submit.
The Portugal captain was in tears through the temporary interval, having to be consoled by his teammates earlier than returning to the pitch for the ultimate quarter-hour, whereas Slovenia boss Kek had been proven a straight pink card so watched the remainder of the sport within the stands.
A slip by final man Pepe noticed Sesko run clear via on objective and look sure to attain – however Costa got here out rapidly to unfold himself and save along with his outstretched leg.
The match went to a shoot-out and Costa received Portugal off to a flying begin when he saved from Josip Ilicic, earlier than Ronaldo slotted previous Oblak, this time into the alternative nook.
Jure Balkovec was then denied by one other high-quality save from Costa to his proper, and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes calmly rolled his spot-kick low into the left nook.
Remarkably, Costa saved once more to disclaim Benjamin Verbic, which left Silva to fit in for a 3-0 shoot-out win and spark wild celebrations amongst his team-mates, led by Ronaldo.
