MONITORING (SW): Portugal overpowered Poland in the penalty shootout on Thursday to reach the semi finals of the Euro 2016.
The game got off to a bright start for Poland with Robert Lewandowski scoring in the second minute but 18-year-old Renato Sanches found the net for the Portugal in 33rd minute to level the score. The sides could not be separated again after two hours of play.
Poland focussed on defence and the game faded out, with the second half finishing goalless and the game heading into extra time.
Cristiano Ronaldo passed up an opportunity early in extra-time and neither side could find the breakthrough, meaning a penalty shootout was needed to separate the two.
During the penalty shootout seven attempts were executed (4-3), but it was Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who dived to the left saving his team’s goal from Poland’s fourth penalty delivered by Poland’s Jakub Bіaszczykowski.
The Portuguese squad will clash next week for the place in the final match with the winner of the Wales-Belgium game, to be held in Lille on Saturday night.
