Portugal v Slovenia LIVE: Result as Diogo Costa saves Cristiano Ronaldo’s blushes in Euro 2024 penalty shootout
Cristiano Ronaldo and his talented Portugal team booked a quarter-final place at Euro 2024
Bernardo Silva struck the winning spot kick and Diogo Costa made three saves as Portugal won a penalty shootout 3-0 against battling Slovenia to reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 where they will meet France.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo had a chance to put Portugal ahead from the penalty spot in the first half of extra time, but Jan Oblak saved brilliantly to leave the Portuguese captain in tears.
Neither side could fashion a goal and the game went to penalties, with Josep Ilicic having the first kick saved for the Slovenians before Ronaldo put his side ahead, and when Jure Balkovec’s spot kick was saved the writing was on the wall.
Costa then saved from Benjamin Verbic, setting Silva up to confidently slot home the winner to put Portugal through to the last eight and a meeting with the French in Hamburg on Friday.
Follow all the reaction from Portugal v Slovenia in Frankfurt below.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 90 minutes
Four added minutes with extra time beckoning...
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 89 minutes
Straight at Jan Oblak! It’s not Cristiano Ronaldo’s night, and it may not be his tournament, the striker sprung from an inside left position and clean through on goal. His left-footed effort is a bit toe-pokey, and clumps into the midriff of Slovenia’s captain, who covers it up with his gloves to make certain.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 88 minutes
Up saunter Slovenia’s centre halves to contest a free kick on the right, but Pepe heads away, forcing a swift retreat. Slovenia are back in shape remarkably quickly.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 86 minutes
Francisco Conceicao wags a finger at the referee but Daniele Orsato has got that spot on, the ball ricocheting back into the Portugal substitute’s legs before travelling behind.
Matjaz Kek makes his third change: the experienced Benjamin Verbic should offer more potency on the right wing than Petar Stojanovic, whose work going the other way has been impeccable.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 83 minutes
Jaka Bijol produces his latest crucial clearance, one of countless on the night from the centre half.
Portugal are playing virtually with a front five, right-back Joao Cancelo one of the quintet as they search desperately for a winner.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 80 minutes
Slovenia have defended so, so well. Timi Elsnik has been pushed out to the left of midfield since Jan Mlakar’s removal and appears in a bit of bother as Joao Cancelo gets past him, but the Slovenian battles back to deny Cancelo even a chance to cross.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 77 minutes
Conceicao leaps in vain to try and get his head to the cross with Zan Karnicnik keeping close hold of the newbie. It’s a little risky from the Slovenia right-back, his arms wrapped around the 21-year-old, but there’s not enough in it to prompt an intervention from VAR Massimiliano Irrati, not yet involved tonight.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 76 minutes
Portugal answer with a change of their own. Francisco Conceicao has already popped up with one crucial goal at this tournament and replaces Rafael Leao, who faded after a bright start.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 74 minutes
It just hasn’t happened for Portugal tonight. Joao Cancelo is again the architect of a chance, but he floats his cross too high for the vertically challenged Bernardo Silva.
A double switch for Slovenia. On come Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Zan Celar; off go Jan Mlakar and the ever willing Andraz Sporar, who mkes his last run of the night to the touchline.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments