Euro 2024: Portugal reach quarter-finals after shoot-out win over Slovenia

Portugal won 3-0 in a shoot-out after Slovenia held them to a 0-0 draw following Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time miss from the spot

Reading Time:2 minutes

Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saves a penalty during the shootout against Slovenia, in Frankfurt, Germany on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:52am, 2 Jul 2024

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 shoot-out to send his side into the next round with a performance that lacked spark for the most part.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo after missing a chance to score against Slovenia at the Frankfurt Arena. Photo: dpa

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 teammates.

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.

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 on to the post.

Portugal fans react during the penalty shoot-out against Slovenia on Monday. Photo: Reuters

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 to make something of it.