Ricardo Quaresma struck a dramatic victor late in the second half of extra time as Portugal scraped past Croatia 1-0 in a dour Euro 2016 last-16 encounter in Lens.
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Portugal finally broke the deadlock 3 minutes from the end of extra-time when Ricardo Quaresma heads in Ronaldo’s saved shot after a quick counter.
The 1-0 win at a raucous Parc des Princes in Paris was probably the dullest game of the tournament so far, but Bale said Wales could not care less as they reached the last eight of a major tournament for the first time since the 1958 World cup.
Ronaldo’s only shot created a rare scoring opportunity and substitute Ricardo Quaresma finished it off, helping Portugal beat Croatia 1-0 in Lens, France, to advance to the European Championship quarterfinals.
It was a fairly tame affair throughout in Lens with neither side mustering a shot on target until the second half of extra-time, when things really began to open up.
Ronaldo, who netted twice in Wednesday’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Hungary, would clearly be the player Portugal turns to for a victory in Lens.
The Portugal captain’s effort was kept out by Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, but Quaresma was on hand to head home in the 117th minute.
The teams will play 30 minutes of extra time, and a penalty shootout looms if they are still level.
And Nani, who had hardly featured in what was a pretty drab match, was involved in the attack.
The Russian soccer union says Leonid Slutsky has quit as coach of the national team after a poor European Championship campaign.
The first half, and indeed the bulk of the 120 minutes, proved to be an edgy contest, neither side able to find top gear while very few clear-cut chances were produced.
Croatia continued to enjoy more possession but Portugal were defending close and closing down space well meaning there was little space for Croatia’s midfield.
Domagoj Vida missed a header of his own around the hour mark, with Darijo Srna putting a free kick on a platter for him only to have his glancing header go wide of the post.
The first-half was devoid of much action of note with the best chance falling to the head of Pepe but he failed to re-adjust his body and could only nod over the bar as both sides struggled desperately in the attacking third.
The riveting contest ended 1-1 after extra time and it only took one mistake from Switzerland to see Poland run out 5-4 winners on penalties.
Nani then had penalty claims waved away by Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo when he appeared to be kicked in the chest by Ivan Strinic as he burst into the box.
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Grzegorz Krychowiak also wasted a good chance when he headed a corner well wide. “But the team as a whole worked incredibly well, and we spoke before the game about moving the ball, making them exhausted and ultimately they would make mistakes”.
