Portugal advanced to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Slovenia on Monday. The match, which ended 0-0 after extra time, was decided by a 3-0 shootout win for Portugal, with goalkeeper Diogo Costa saving three Slovenian penalties.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had missed a penalty in the first period of extra time, redeemed himself by converting his spot-kick in the shootout. The Portuguese forward had been visibly emotional after his miss, breaking down in tears, but he managed to regain his composure and score the crucial penalty.
Slovenia put up a valiant fight, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak making a stunning save to deny Ronaldo’s penalty earlier in the game. However, Portugal’s dominance in the shootout proved too much for the Slovenians, as Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva also converted their penalties.
The match was a tense affair throughout, with Portugal struggling to break down a well-organized Slovenian defense. Ronaldo had several chances to score, including a powerful free-kick that went just over the bar and a shot that was saved by Oblak. However, Slovenia also had its moments, with forward Benjamin Sesko coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions.
The match went to extra time after a goalless draw, and both teams had chances to score before the game was ultimately decided by the penalty shootout. Portugal will now face France in the quarter-finals, a rematch of the 2016 Euro final.
The Portuguese team’s victory was a testament to their resilience and their ability to overcome adversity. Ronaldo’s redemption story was a highlight of the match, and Costa’s heroics in the penalty shootout were crucial to Portugal’s success.
