Euro 2012: Portugal move into semifinals

The 2012 European Championships continued with the quarterfinals with Group A winners Czech Republic taking on Group B runners-up Portugal at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. The Czech Republic surprisingly had topped Group A, while Portugal finished as runners-up from the Group of Death.


QUARTERFINAL #1

Czech Republic 0-1 (0-0) Portugal
Goals: 0-1 Cristiano Ronaldo (79')

Portugal needed a winner from superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to overcome the Czech Republic to move as the first team into the semifinals at Euro2012. They now await the winner of the Spain vs France match.

The first session was a slow affair with the Portuguese unable to break the Czech Republic's defensive unit too often, while the Czechs were more concerned about not conceding then scoring themselves though they looked the better side. Only towards the end Portugal started to combine and Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post on the stroke of half-time.

Things changed after the break then coach Paulo Bento seems to have found the right words, then suddenly Portugal were on fire and put the Czechs under pressure who looked tired and jaded due to their defensive game. But the Czechs have one of the best goalkeepers in the world amongst them in Petr Cech and he stood in the Portuguese way. Ronaldo was denied by the woodwork twice before he headed in the winner in the 79th minute from a lofted cross from Joao Moutinho. If one thought that the Czechs would now go out and try to get an equaliser, one was surprised as they were lucky not to concede a second. In the end Portugal won 1-0 and moved into the semifinal.