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, 44 minutes
Andraz Sporar wins a header and finds Benjamin Sesko. The red sea of Portuguese shirts parts in front of the striker, urging him to drive for goal. Sesko obliges, but it’s straight at Diogo Costa, dropping to a knee as he accepts it into his bread basket even with a late swerve.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 42 minutes
Jaka Bijol has enjoyed a really strong tournament, the converted defensive midfielder now a centre half colossus. Cristiano Ronaldo has got zero joy out of the left-sided member of Slovenia’s central defensive pairing.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 40 minutes
Slovenia win a corner which Adam Gnezda Cerin trots across to take, surprisingly playing it short. He gets it back but gets the cross all wrong, conceding a throw in some 25 yards further back from where he struck it.
Still, Slovenia will be reasonably pleased with half time approaching.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 38 minutes
That’s a little bit greedy from Cristiano Ronaldo. A Zan Karnicnik handball on the right provides a free kick that looks perfectly placed for a cross into the box, and up the big blokes lumber to challenge for it. Ronaldo, though, selfishly shoots, and slices it wildly away.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 35 minutes
Cristiano Ronaldo is furious. The chances are coming but he just isn’t quite converting them, his latest leap mistimed and nary any contact made on a floating cross ripe for picking. A cry to the skies and a scream at himself with Portugal still frustrated.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 34 minutes
Over the crossbar! So close yet so far for Ronaldo, coming absolutely cantering on to the set piece and sending it sizzling to Jan Oblak’s side. The Slovenia keeper throws up a hand but is beaten; so, fortunately for Oblak, is his crossbar.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 32 minutes
Now then. Vanja Drkusic lunges in on Rafael Leao just outside the Slovenia area. Referee Daniele Orsato goes to his pocket for a yellow card as Cristiano Ronaldo sets his sights...
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 31 minutes
A quite magnificent pass from Nuno Mendes so nearly gives Bruno Fernandes a real chance, but the midfielder can’t quite get to grips with a dynamite diagonal, pulling it down though unable to shoot before Jaka Bijol steps in.
Portugal reload and Cristiano Ronaldo is granted a ball to attack. He beats Vanja Drkusic on this occasion, but a flick off the defender’s head makes the save simple for Jan Oblak.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 28 minutes
This pitch is really cutting up, causing several players issues with their footing. Bruno Fernandes slips on the edge of the Slovenia box, though does manage to force a corner from the floor. It’s a poor ball in from Bernardo Silva, failing to beat the first man.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments