Portugal defeat Poland to reach Euro semi-final

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are through to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 despite failing to win a game in normal time in the tournament so far.

Portugal drew their three group games before beating Croatia with almost the final extra-time kick of their last 16 tie. Now they will face the winners of Belgium and Wales in Lyon next week after beating Poland 5-3 on penalties.

The night began terribly for Portugal as Robert Lewandowski scored for Poland in only the second minute of the game.

But 18-year-old sensation Renato Sanches equalised on his first international start after half an hour and after that the game fell in to a drab and predictable pattern.

Ronaldo could have won it three times for his country only to swing at fresh air when presented with chances, twice in the second half and once in the second minute of extra time.

But he stepped up to convert his team’s first penalty and Portugal eventually triumphed when Jakub Blaszcykowksi saw Poland’s fourth penalty saved and Ricardo Quaresma stepped up to seal his country’s progress.

Portugal fell to Lewandowski’s first European Championship goal in only the second minute in what was always likely to be a rather tight quarter-final tie.

But when Portugal needed something special to rouse them it came not from Ronaldo but 18-year-old midfielder Sanches.

Recently trailed by Manchester United before leaving Benfica for Bayern Munich for big money last month, this was the teenager’s very first start for his country. And Sanches marked it perfectly by driving an equaliser past Lukasz Fabianski from the edge of the area just after the half hour.

Portugal did have other chances before extra-time arrived. Ronaldo drove on selfishly into the side netting, missed his kick completely on another occasion and had a chance to win it in normal time when found in the clear with five minutes left. But as the ball dropped over his shoulder, he could only swipe at thin air.

At the other end Portugal goalkeeper Patricio got down well to save a Arkadiusz Milik near post volley with his left hand.

Having not scored a goal in this tournament before this game, Lewandowski must have wondered if it was ever going to happen. As it turned out, his personal goal misery ended within two minutes.

It was a lovely finish from the Bayern Munich forward but Portugal did contribute to their own downfall.

A long crossfield pass from the left side seemed rather ambitious and looked certain to be cut out by Portugal left back Cedric. But the Southampton defender misjudged the flight of the ball and as soon as it was allowed to reach Kamil Grosicki Portugal were in big trouble.

With space to run into, Grosicki’s only remaining challenge was to pick out a team-mate and when he eventually laid the ball back to Lewandowski the No 9 thumped it beautifully into Rui Patricio’s right hand corner with his instep.

Portugal were hanging on a little at this time and were lucky that another neat piece of play by Lewandowski did not result in a second goal as he shrugged off a defender to bring a save from Rui Patricio at the near post.

Eventually, though, they did ease themselves into the game and Ronaldo perhaps had more time than he realised when presented with an opportunity on the edge of the area in the 28th minute but his shot did not stretch Fabianski.

Moments later Ronaldo probably should have had a penalty as he was bundled over by Michael Pazdan as he prepared to jump for a high ball but referee Felix Brych waved play on.