Marseille: On Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal
prevailed over Robert Lewandowski’s Poland 5-3 in a penalty shootout to book
their place in the semifinals of Euro Cup 2016 after a 1-1 stalemate at the end
of extra time in Marseille .
For Portugal, Ronaldo, Renato Sanches, Joao Moutinho, Nani
and Ricardo Quaresma converted from the spot. For Poland, Lewandowski,
Arkadiusz Milik and Kamil Glik scored to make it 3-3 before Jakub
Blaszczykowski had his shot saved by Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio before
Quaresma slammed in his kick to seal Portugal’s win.
The match headed into extra time after a 1-1 deadlock between
the two sides at the end of full time in Marseille on Thursday. Both teams
failed to create little by way of scoring chances during the 30 minutes of
extra time.
A goal from teenager Renato Sanches for Portugal cancelled
Lewandowski’s early strike for Poland before half-time. Sanches, 18, became the
youngest player to start for Portugal in a major tournament after coach
Fernando Santos made two changes for the Euro 2016 quarter-final against
Poland.
Midfielder Sanches, replacing Andre Gomes, broke the previous
record held by Cristiano Ronaldo who made his first championship start as a
19-year-old in Euro 2004. Benfica full back Eliseu also came in for the injured
Raphael Guerreiro.
The next quarter-final
takes place today between Wales and Belgium at Strade Pierre-Mauroy,
Villeneuve-d’Ascq, the winner of which will face Portugal in the semi-finals on
July 6.
This is the 15th edition
of the tournament.
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