The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Highlights: Portugal edge Croatia at Euro 2016

Roar Rookie
25th June, 2016
0

Cristiano Ronaldo helped create a rare chance and substitute Ricardo Quaresma finished it off, helping Portugal to beat Croatia 1-0 and advance to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION WITH OUR LIVE BLOG

Portugal settled a poor game in the 117th minute with their only serious attack, when Ronaldo’s one shot all match was parried by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic across the goalmouth in the second half of extra time on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

Quaresma stooped to head the ball into an unguarded net from close range.

“It was not a brilliant game, I will admit that. But we were patient and resilient and we were given our reward at the end,” Quaresma said.

“Now we just have to focus on the quarter-finals, which will also be difficult for us, I am sure of that.”

The goal came from a fast counter attack just after Croatia forward Ivan Perisic had struck the post with a shot.

Portugal will now play Poland in the quarter-finals on Thursday (Friday AEST) in Marseille.

Advertisement

It is clearly in the weaker half of the bracket, avoiding Spain, Italy, Germany and France until the final on July 10.

Somehow, Portugal and 31-year-old Ronaldo have a chance to win an elusive first title after three draws in the group stage and looking incapable of scoring in a cautious, mistake-filled match in the round of 16.

Neither side aimed a shot or header on target until extra time, and the match only sparked into life in the closing minutes.

Croatia’s best chances fell to defender Domagoj Vida.

A 62nd-minute header wide was the closest anybody came in 90 minutes, another header in extra time flew over an unguarded goal, and – in a frantic final push – his hooked shot flew just wide.

close