FRANKFURT, Germany
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved three Slovenia penalties to earn his side a 3-0 shootout victory after Cristiano Ronaldo redeemed himself from the spot in a dramatic Euro 2024 last 16 clash on Monday.
Portugal forward Ronaldo broke
down in tears after missing a penalty in the first period of extra-time in the
goalless tie in Frankfurt.
But he recovered to convert in
the shootout as Portugal scraped through to set up a blockbuster clash with
France in the quarterfinals.
Slovenia battled valiantly to
keep Portugal at bay, with Jan Oblak making a stunning save to keep out
Ronaldo's penalty after Diogo Jota was fouled.
However, Ronaldo, Bruno
Fernandes and Bernardo Silva all scored in the shootout and Slovenia's trio
missed, sending the Selecao through in heart-stopping fashion.
"First it was sadness and
then it was joy, that's what football gives you, inexplicable moments, a bit of
everything," said Ronaldo.
"I didn't make a single
mistake this year and when I needed something the most, Oblak saved it.
"Slovenia spent the whole game defending and when that happens, it all becomes difficult."
Ronaldo, 39, is still without
a goal at the tournament in four appearances, having scored in the five
previous editions of the Euros.
The Euro 2016 winners
dominated the ball and created their first chance after 12 minutes when Silva's
inviting cross just evaded Ronaldo and Fernandes could not turn home at the far
post.
Slovenia, playing in their
first ever knockout match at a major competition, maintained their defensive
shape well and limited Portugal's opportunities.
Former Real Madrid striker
Ronaldo directed a soft header at his old nemesis, Atletico Madrid keeper
Oblak, under vital pressure from Vanja Drkusic.
The Slovenian defender was
booked moments later for bringing down the surging Rafael Leao as he charged
towards Oblak's goal.
Ronaldo smashed the free-kick
narrowly over the bar with the goalkeeper at full stretch.
Slovenia produced their first
effort on target just before halftime when RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko
fired at Costa from the edge of the box.
Portugal's holding midfielder
Joao Palhinha hit the outside of the post with a low drive, the final kick of
the first half, after more good work by the menacing Leao.
Ronaldo forced a solid stop by
Oblak with another venomous free-kick early in the second half as the Al-Nassr
forward tried in vain to break down Slovenia's defensive wall, which
comfortably held England to a goalless draw in the group stage.
Matjaz Kek's side had a golden
chance to take the lead on a rare burst forward, but Sesko dragged wide after
beating the oldest player in the competition's history, 41-year-old Pepe, for
pace.
Portugal captain Ronaldo thumped yet another free-kick over the crossbar with 20 minutes remaining and Oblak denied him with two minutes to go when he was through on the left..
The pace dipped in extra-time
and the first period was uneventful, until the 103rd minute when Jota barged
into the area and went down over Drkusic's leg for a penalty.
Ronaldo fired it hard to
Oblak's left but the goalkeeper produced a stunning save to deny him, tipping
his effort against the post and out.
In halftime of extra-time,
Ronaldo was in tears after his miss, and Portugal fans sang his name to try to
raise his shattered morale.
Slovenia missed another huge
opening of their own when Pepe gave the ball away with a loose pass and Sesko
stole it to race through on goal.
The forward fired too close to
Costa who produced an excellent save with his leg, forcing a penalty shootout –
Slovenia's first ever.
Slovenia went first and
substitute Josip Ilicic's effort was brilliantly saved by Costa.
Ronaldo buried his kick and
asked for forgiveness from the fans behind the goal for his extra-time miss,
before Costa saved Slovenia's second from Jure Balkovec.
Costa made a third consecutive
penalty save from Benjamin Verbic after Fernandes converted and Silva won it as
he sent Oblak the wrong way.
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