Portugal needed penalties to overcome Slovenia and qualify for the quarterfinals of the European Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo breathed a long sigh of relief after missing a penalty in the 15th minute of the first half of extra time: the Portuguese champion burst into tears after Oblak saved his shot. It would have been the saddest farewell to the national team for the 39-year-old champion.
The hero of the evening was Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who, after preventing Sesko from scoring the winning goal in the second extra time, saved three penalties out of three shots by the Slovenians. The team coached by Martinez will face France in the quarterfinals. The regular time and extra time had ended 0-0.
The Slovenians, who reached the knockout stage for the first time in the continental tournament, proved to be solid (they have never lost in regulation time) and dangerous thanks to the counterattacks of their forwards Sesko and Sporar. Martinez fielded the starting team that had rested against Georgia: Ronaldo remained in the center, supported however by Leao and Bernardo Silva. And the Milan player appears to be in good shape.
The first chance for the Portuguese: in the 5th minute Ruben Dias grazes the post with a good shot from the center of the area. Shortly after, Bernardo Silva also tries. In the 34th minute, a free kick from the edge for Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo kicks but the ball goes over the crossbar. The clearest chance comes at the end of the first half: Palhinha kicks from the edge and beats the experienced Oblak but the ball hits the left post. In the second half, Bernardo Silva and Ronaldo are still dangerous but it is Slovakia who have the best chance: Sesko runs with the ball at his feet and enters the area to shoot but Pepe tackles him and the shot comes out weakened. During extra time, everything happens. In the 15th minute of the first extra time, Orsato awards a penalty for Palinha being brought down in the area. Cr7 steps up to the ball but his shot is saved by Oblak. The Portuguese champion bursts into tears with his teammates who console him. In the 10th minute of the second half of extra time, Diogo Costa performed a miracle on Sesko who, taking advantage of a mistake by Pepe, had flown alone towards the goal. Then the penalties that rewarded Cr7 and his teammates.
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