Euro 2016: Rui Patricio penalty heroics Helped Portugal to Survive Penalty Shootout to Enter SFs

Portugal went through the semis of 2016 UEFA Euro Cup after Beating the Poland by 5-3 on Penalties.Earlier first 120 minutes ended on 1-1. Two hours earlier striker Robert Lewandowski had put Poland ahead in the second minute only for 18-year-old Renato Sanches to equalise with a superb shot 33 minutes into his first international start for Portugal.

A superb shootout save by Portugal’s Rui Patricio allowed Ricardo Quaresma to be the hero again as his spot kick against Poland sent them into the Euro 2016 semi-finals 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 finish following extra time on Thursday.

  Portugal should have hit the winners on 85 minutes, but after sneaking behind Pazan to meet a ball over the top from late substitute Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo's left foot failed to connect with what looked like a simple chance.

Poland, who had never won a European Championship match before this tournament and finished bottom of their group on home soil four years ago, will bemoan their early missed opportunities and probably backed themselves in the shootout having got past
Switzerland that way in the last round.

First Half

The quarterfinal stages of the 2016 UEFA Euros got of to a storming start, with Poland shocking a sleeping Portugal in the 2nd minute itself. Cedric misjudged a header while clearing a diagonal aimed at Grosicki on the wing, allowing the Polish winger to rifle in a low cross that Robert Lewandowski expertly turned into the net with a first time shot, his first goal in the Euros after a 645 minute drought.

Poland continued to attack on the counter, with Portugal creating nothing in the opening 25 minutes. However, they had a stonewall penalty shout turned down in the 30th minute as Pazdan shoved Ronaldo when the Real Madrid forward looked set to get on the end of a tempting cross from the left.

Portugal did not stew over their misfortune for too long, as Renato Sanches, the youngest player to ever start for Portugal in a major tournament, dragged his national side back into the game. The Bayern Munich youngster exchanged a 1-2 with Nani on the edge of the box and then powered a thunderbolt towards goal with his left foot, with Fabianski beaten by the ball deflecting off Krychowiak, drawing the game level in the 33rd minute.

Portugal nearly undid their good work towards the end of the half, but a couple of blocks and deflections ensured the game went tied into the break.

Second Half

In a stark contrast to the first half, the opening 15 minutes of the second half passed without barely anything of note happening. Nani strived to be Portugal’s creator, sending Ronaldo through on the left edge of the box with a smart through ball, but the Portuguese captain spurned the chance firing wide off the post with his left foot.

With the game becoming increasingly attritional, Milik almost scored from a rare foray forward, but was unable to put much power on a flick-on, with Rui Patricio collecting with ease. Fonte went close with a header from a Joao Moutinho corner in the 79th minute, but his effort was straight at Fabanski.

Moutinho ought to have had an assist, and Portugal the winner in the 86th minute, but for Ronaldo. The substitute floated in a peach of a ball over the Polish defence, with Ronaldo having run clear, but the superstar missed his attempt at a first-time volley entirely, which meant that the 90 minutes ended with the game all square.

Extra Time

Cristiano Ronaldo seemed to be enduring one of those nights, as the Portuguese striker missed another chance from a left-wing cross, as the ball took a deflectionand dropped to him about two yards from goal, but he was unable to readjust his feet in time, allowing Poland to clear.

With both sides tiring, there was litlle that was created by either side in the second half of extra time, as both sides played out a rather dull end to the game, resulting in a consecutive penalty shootout for both sides.

Extra time was notable more for the pitch invader who tried to reach Ronaldo than for real scoring chances. Fourteen security personnel carried the Ronaldo fans off after he was caught.

Penalties

Ronaldo stepped up to take the first penalty and slammed the ball home with confidence, much like Lewandowski for Poland as well. Blaszczykowski was the only player to miss from an excellent set of penalties, with Rui Patricio making a fantastic save, while Quaresma scored to send Portugal through to the semifinals of the 2016 UEFA Euros






Source:sportskeeda

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