What occurred in Frankfurt within the third match of the “16” of Euro 2024 has not been repeated. Diogo Costa saved all three of Slovenia's first penalties within the Russian Roulette course of, his team-mates hit the goal as many occasions and Portugal certified for the final 8 in an exciting 3-0 win over Slovenia in a soul-crushing course of.
The match in its regular period and in further time didn’t reveal a winner (0-0), nevertheless, within the penalty shootout the goalkeeper of Porto was actually invincible and Martinez's group will play within the quarter-finals towards France.
We didn't see something completely different than anticipated within the first 45 minutes. Portugal clearly the higher group on the pitch, they pressed from the beginning, had possession of the ball, however the Slovenians didn't go into the match scared, they seemed their opponents within the eye and after the primary quarter-hour they began to return out of their protection and so they tried to “hit” on the counter.
With Mendes and Leao inflicting issues on the Slovenian proper wing and Vitinia making an attempt to separate the sport from the axis, Martinez's facet pressed from the begin to rating as quickly as doable. He missed an incredible likelihood within the thirteenth minute, following Silva's correct cross from the precise, with Ronaldo and Fernandes unable to push the ball into the web from shut vary.
Within the 31', Ronaldo's header didn’t fear Oblak, whereas within the 34', CR7's “lightning” with the direct foul despatched the ball simply over the crossbar. A shot by Cesko within the forty fourth minute a number of meters outdoors the realm discovered Costa available, who firmly blocked. It was the primary… suspected likelihood of the Slovenians within the recreation! The half ended with a giant part for the Portuguese. Palinia's shot, nevertheless, outdoors the realm despatched the ball “licking” the foundation of the precise publish and going out.
Slovenia withstood the strain
The second half began with an vital second for the Iberians. The utterly unmarked Silva's shot into the guts of the realm, after Cancelo's superb effort, was hopelessly off beam. Within the fifty fifth minute, Oblak stated “no” to Ronaldo's sturdy shot (foul). And whereas Portugal was urgent in each method to rating, within the 61st minute Cesko went alone on the counterattack, he sprinted previous Pepe, however his end towards Costa was poor, in Slovenia's greatest likelihood of the match.
As time went on, fatigue started to indicate an increasing number of strongly within the efforts of the gamers of each groups. 0-0 didn’t change after 94 minutes, though within the 89th minute Ronaldo was overwhelmed in a 4-on-4 with Oblak (the Portuguese's shot was saved by the Slovenian keeper).
The extension had two “destinies”
The primary group to threaten in further time was Slovenia. Within the ninety fifth minute, Verbic tried to attain from the highest of the field, however the shot he tried hit the Portuguese foot and went out for a nook.
The part that marked the match happened at 105'. Orsato pointed to a penalty within the 103rd minute when Zota was tackled and the Liverpool centre-forward fell within the space after being marked by Drkusic. A really strict penalty, which Ronaldo took two minutes later. The Portuguese marked the precise nook, however Oblak with a terrific intervention saved the ball which additionally discovered the publish after which went away.
CR7's crying instantly afterwards was indicative of his frustration. His teammates did all the pieces of their energy to assist him, with the highest participant unable to carry again his tears! Cesko missed an unimaginable alternative within the one hundred and fifteenth minute to ship Slovenia to the “8”. The Leipzig striker in an unprecedented 4-on-4 with Costa, after Pepe's tragic mistake, did not beat the Porto keeper who made an enormous save along with his foot.
The penalties
Ilicic Save Costa
Ronaldo 1-0
Balkovec Save Costa
Fernandes 2-0
Verbic Save Costa
Silva 3-0
PORTUGAL (Roberto Martinez): Costa, Cancelo (117' Neves), Dias, Pepe (117' Semedo), Mendes, Fernandes, Palinha, Vitinia (65' Zota), Silva, Ronaldo, Leao (76' Conceição)
SLOVENIA (Matiaz Kek): Oblak, Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bigol, Balkovec, Stojanovic (86' Verbic), Cerin, Elsnik (106' Ilicic), Mlakar (74' Gorens-Stankovic), Cesko, Sporar (74' Celar)
Diogo Costa is the primary man in European Championship historical past to avoid wasting three penalties in a shootout.
No man in European Championship historical past has saved extra shootout penalties and he is solely confronted three.
He additionally saved a clear sheet within the 120 minutes.#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/i8Qm7XYj4b
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 1, 2024
