Diogo Costa Imperial vs Slovenians
Photo: Keystone/EPA/Anna Szilagyi
Portugal qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euros. In Frankfurt, the Lusitanians won on penalties 3-0 against Slovenia, with Diogo Costa on the scoresheet.
How do you say wall in Portuguese? Diogo Costa! After a goalless match during 120 minutes of play, the last defense of the Seleção was imperial during the penalty shootout and just before this session from a pass from Cisco.
But during the penalty shootout, Diogo Costa made every save…and all three Slovenian attempts. Meanwhile, all three Portuguese shooters scored, including Cristiano Ronaldo who saved Jan Oblak's penalty in the 105th minute.
Crying, and feeling responsible for his country's possible elimination in the round of 16, CR7 could thank his goalkeeper and all his teammates who came to surround and support him. Like a great hero, the 39-year-old striker, who has gone into exile in Saudi Arabia, went to take and score the first penalty in a session that was completely dominated by the Lusitanians.
Before this result, the Portuguese had controlled the tempo of the match by rotating the ball. But Roberto Martinez's men had great difficulty finding players in the spaces at the level of the penalty area. A few passes from Nuno Mendes and some acceleration from Rafael Leao in the first half did not make goalkeeper Oblak tremble.
So Cristiano Ronaldo also clashed with the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. CR7 took advantage of several chances from a free kick but the frame saved them. And in the ninetieth, Oblak prevented his delivery.
But in the end, the Portuguese had the last word and his country will meet France in the quarter-finals. A match that brings to mind the Euro 2016 final won by Botros Galic in Paris.
/ATS
