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Euro PIX: Portugal shoot-out Slovenia to make last 8

July 02, 2024

Images from the Euro 2024 Round of 16 match between Portugal and Slovenia, at Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday.

IMAGE: Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was the hero of Portugal's victory over Slovenia in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 match in Frankfurt on Monday, bringing off three saves in the penalty shoot-out and as many in regulation time. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all three penalties as Portugal won 3-0 in a shoot-out against a brave Slovenia side who had held them to a 0-0 draw after Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time miss from the spot in a dramatic Euro 2024 last 16 clash on Monday.

 

Portugal had the lion's share of the chances but also their goalkeeper to thank for a one-on-one save from Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko as fortunate Portugal stumbled into a quarter-final meeting with France in Hamburg on Friday.

Costa saved from Josip Ilicic, Jure Balkovec and Benjamin Verbic in the shootout to send his side into the next round with a performance that lacked spark for the most part.

IMAGE: Slovenia's goalkeeper Jan Oblak saves a penalty from Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in extra-time. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

Ronaldo in particular will come under the spotlight as he wasted several opportunities to go with a penalty miss in extra-time that left him in a flood of tears and needing to be consoled by team mates.

Portugal were awarded the spot-kick late in the first half of the added period when Diogo Jota's storming run into the box was illegally stopped by defender Vanja Drkusic, who had already been booked and was lucky not to receive a second yellow card.

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after failing to score from the penalty spot. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

They have a reliable penalty taker in their team in Bruno Fernandes but captain Ronaldo elected to take it and his effort was superbly saved to his left by Slovenia's Jan Oblak, who pushed the ball onto the post.

Slovenia’s tactics were limited and every time they had a scrap of possession they sent the ball long to forwards Andraz Sporar and Sesko to try and make something of it.

IMAGE: Portugal's goalkeeper Diogo Costa does well to save a shot from Slovenia's Benjamin Sesko in extra-time. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

But it was a ploy that worked well and Sesko had two one-on-one opportunities in the game from Pepe mistakes, but his first was scuffed wide and the second well saved by Costa.

The second of those misses will no doubt haunt him and when it came to the pressure of the shootout, his side wilted in the face of excellent goalkeeping, much to the relief of Ronaldo.

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo beats Slovenia's goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the penalty shoot-out. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

"Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That's what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments.

"A direct shot to give the team the lead. I didn't manage it. (Jan) Oblak made a good save ... I have to see the penalty, I don't know if I shot well or badly, but I haven't missed once all year, and when I needed it most, Oblak saved it," was how Ronaldo summed up his penalty miss and Portugal's victory.

Source: REUTERS
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