POLAND 1-1 PORTUGAL (3-5 ON PENS): QUARESMA SENDS PORTUGAL INTO SEMI-FINALS
Poland went ahead inside two minutes on Thursday night after Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal of the tournament and it was the second-fastest goal ever at the European Championships, but a magnificient play by the portuguese youngster Renato Sanches saw Portugal level against Poland in the 33rd minute.
Not only did he score his first goal for his country in some style- firing into the net from the edge of the box, he also become the youngest ever player to score in a knockout game of a European Championship at 18 years and 316 days old.For Portugal Pepe stood firm in the defence and was the best player for them on the pitch while Ronaldo didn't stood upto his expectation and missed a couple of chances and had only hit two shots for the whole game.
Neither team was able to make the breakthrough in regulation time, though, there were few talking points in extra time as the match was paused briefly due to an ill-advised pitch invader. And with no other goals in 120 minutes, the game went to penalties and after Ronaldo, Lewandoski, Renato Sanchez, Nani all converted their penalty it was Poland's Jakub Blaszczykowski who saw his spot kick saved by Rui Patricio with a fantastic save towards the left corrner.
Then Quaresma stepped up and hammered his kick at the back of the net and sent Portugal into the Semi-finals of Euro Cup.
Portugal have taken advantage of Euro 2016's expanded format by reaching the final four - even though they have not won a match in normal time. They only finished third in a weak group after drawing 1-1 with Iceland; 0-0 with Austria; and 3-3 with Hungary. They then scored a 117th-minute goal from Ricardo Quaresma to beat Croatia in the last 16 before winning against Poland in penalties. But Portugal are the masters of reaching the final four in this competition having done so five times in total and four times in the last five editions. Now Portugal are set to face either Wales or Belgium in the Semi final of the Euro 2016.
