Portugal eliminated Slovenia on Monday on penalties, 3-0, in the round of 16 of the European Championship, after the match ended in a goalless draw in regular time in Frankfurt. The star of the show was goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who saved the Slovenians’ first three shots to secure qualification for the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty during the match, which left him quite shaken, and he even cried during the break between the first and second half of extra time. He later opened the penalty shootout for Portugal and converted his second penalty of the match.
Portugal will now face France in the quarter-finals of the European Championship, next Friday, at 4pm (Brasília time), at the Volksparkstadion, in Hamburg.
Diogo Costa saves three penalties to send Portugal to the quarter-finals! 🇵🇹#EURO2024 | #PORSVN pic.twitter.com/ZLEuhACmpI
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 1, 2024
The game – The first half was marked by a great Portuguese performance. Despite this, the Portuguese did not find a way to score, with the best chance being midfielder João Palhinha’s shot hitting the post in the third minute of added time, just before the break.
In the second half, Portugal’s dominance was even more evident, but the team was unable to convert its performance into goals. Portugal saw two good chances for Cristiano Ronaldo saved by Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper Oblak.
In the first half of extra time, at the 15th minute, Diogo Jota was brought down in the penalty area and gave hope to the Portuguese team. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had scored the last 13 penalties taken by the team, went for the ball and was stopped by Oblak again. The Slovenian goalkeeper jumped very well and saved the ball from Cristiano, who even hit the post before going out.
In the penalty shootout, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva scored for Portugal, while Ilicic, Balkovec and Verbic missed for Slovenia, all with saves by Diogo Costa.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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