Poland 1:1 Portugal (3:5 on penalties). Portugal qualifies for the semifinals as a new star is born.
The much awaited first quarter final game between Poland and Portugal came up yesterday at 20:00 (GMT + 2.00) at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. A match touted to be a personal battle between two footballing superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski took off on that note as with just 2 minutes gone, Robert Lewandowski coolly side footed a low cross from Kamil Grosicki past Rui Patricio.
The Polish defence sat deep and help Portugal at bay for long moments despite flashes of brilliance from the Portuguese attack. However their resistance was broken in the 33rd minute when a neat one two at the edge of the box released 18-year old sensation, Renato Sanches who shifted the ball to his left foot and then unleashed an unstoppable effort which found its way past Lukasz Fabianski albeit with the help of a slight deflection. He became the Euros youngest scorer in a knockout round and Portugal's youngest scorer with his strike. (Watch This Space)
Portugal had the most chances as the game progressed with Cristiano Ronaldo the culprit on most occasions especially when his foot failed to connect with a well timed Nani pass.
The game progressed to extra time where tired legs failed to muster anything of note and the game went to penalties. Captains Lewandowski and Ronaldo got the ball rolling with well taken spotkicks before Jakub Blaszczykowski eight effort was saved by Patricio.
Ricardo Quaresma stepped up and buried his kick past Fabianski to send the Portuguese to the semifinals.
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