Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal into semi-finals
Kathmandu : Portugal likes to leave it late at this European Championship, whether Cristiano Ronaldo is having a good game or not. The Portuguese have been level after 90 minutes in every game this tournament, a run that continued Thursday as Ronaldo and his teammates drew 1-1 with Poland after extra time, before advancing to the semifinals with a 5-3 victory on penalties.
Robert Lewandowski had fired Poland ahead in the second minute with teenager Renato Sanches equalising via a deflected strike. Portugal's semi-final opponent will be either Wales or Belgium. Remarkably, Portugal have reached the last four without winning a game in normal time following three draws in a group in which they finished third and an extra-time win over Croatia in the last 16.
Robert Lewandowski had fired Poland ahead in the second minute with teenager Renato Sanches equalising via a deflected strike. Portugal's semi-final opponent will be either Wales or Belgium. Remarkably, Portugal have reached the last four without winning a game in normal time following three draws in a group in which they finished third and an extra-time win over Croatia in the last 16.
The early goal gave Poland momentum, and a defiant but borderline interception by Grzegorz Krychowiak on Sanches set Arkadiusz Milik up for a 25-yard drive that sailed wide on the quarter hour. Ronaldo hit the defensive wall with one free kick and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had no trouble with Ronaldo`s 18-yard drive from a Nani cross. German referee Felix Brych waved away Ronaldo`s claims for a penalty on 31 minutes despite replays suggesting the Real Madrid star was bundled over by centre-back Michal Pazdan as he went to meet a cross.
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