Poland V Portugal: What just happened
Poland took on Portugal in the quater finals of Euro 2016 in Marseille. Poland can be accused of wasted opportunities in front of goal in recent games with Polish striker Robert Lewandowski struggling for form in front of goal. Poland got a dream start through Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski who put the ball past Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio via a Kamil Grosicki delivery. With Portugal needing to equalise they pushed men forward but soon to be Valencia winger Nani gave the ball away cheaply to Grosicki but the Portuguese back line holds out. Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo created a few half chances but was matched by Swansea shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski.It was then Poland's turn to test the opposition goalkeeper when Arkadiusz Milik lets fly from the edge of the box but sees his shot race past Patricio's post and wide. Milik from a similar position seen his shot blocked by Pepe and out for a corner, Poland then created a good chance from the resulting corner with left back Arthur Jedrzejczyk, Milik and Grosicki combining on the edge of the box with the latter seeing his near post cross cleared by the Portuguese centre backs. Up at the other end Ronaldo again had a half chance but seen his strike deflected into the save arms of Fabianski. Then the controversial Ronaldo had appeals for a penalty waved away by the referee as he ran across the polish defender Pazdan who barges into the back of him. 18 year old Bayern munich new signing Renato Sanches then increased his huge reputation by grabbing an equaliser for the Portuguese via a deflection off soon to be PSG midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak. That was the last real piece of action of the half with both sides heading into the break on level terms with Portugal now looking the better side.
Poland started the second half the brightest with Lewandowski testing Patricio with a header. Portugal's first half chance of the second half came when Sporting winger Joao Mario drilling a cross into the box with Ronaldo missing the opportunity to put his side ahead. It was all Portugal for the next few passages of play with Poland finding it difficult to find their way back into the game and the Portuguese looking the most likely side to score. With just over 20 minutes to go the ball found it's way to Milik who couldn't connect sweet enough with Patricio unfazed. With 15 minutes left of the 90, Ronaldo was becoming visibly angry with Joao Mario as he believed he was wasteful in front of goal but from a corner he header straight at the keeper with plenty of time and space. Portugal then introduced the hero against Croatia, Ricardo Quaresma for Joao Mario and he was met with jubilation by his own fans. Ronaldo then had a chance which was nearly turned into his own net by Fabianski. With 5 minutes to go, Cristiano Ronaldo was played through brilliantly by Monaco's Joao Moutinho but scuffed his half volley attempt from about 8 yards out and was Portugal's best opportunity to find a late winner again wasted by Ronaldo. Sporting holding midfielder William Carvalho gave away a stupid foul and picked up a yellow card which would rule him out of the semi final it Portugal were to reach it. With 90 minutes up, extra time would try and decide the semi finalists.
Ronaldo has another chance to give Portugal the lead at the start of extra time but couldn't sort out his feet when the ball found it's way to him in the box. With the first half of extra time coming to a close, Poland looked reasonably happy to take the game to penalties, having being successful in knocking out the Swiss in spot kicks. Both sides looked very fatigued as the second half of extra time came to its climax with both looking to maybe catch echother on the counter attack and conserve their energy. Poland looked to create a chance with 2 minutes to go, but Real Madrid defender Pepe got a crucial clearance as Lewandowski was waiting to pounce. Penalties would eventually decide the victors with both sides happy to bring the game to penalties.
Ronaldo got us underway, probably under manager orders with him usually preferring to score the deciding penalty, and the captain gave them the advantage with a fantastic penalty. Lewandowski stepped up first for the poles and made it 1-1, sending Patricio the wrong way. Youngster Renato Sanches stepped up to take Portugal's second and the 18 year old buried it with style and confidence. Milik converted his penalty to make it 2-2. Moutinho made it 3-2 with a well placed finish. Kamil Glik took Poland's 3rd penalty and the Torino man smashed the ball past the Portuguese keeper to level the scoring. Former Manchester United winger Nani took Portugal's 4th and coolly slotted the ball into the top right hand corner to give Portugal the advantage. Blaszczykowski stepped up but Rui Patricio pulled out a huge stop and left Ricardo Quaresma to put his country through to the semi finals and he duly obliged to make it 5-3
Poland started the second half the brightest with Lewandowski testing Patricio with a header. Portugal's first half chance of the second half came when Sporting winger Joao Mario drilling a cross into the box with Ronaldo missing the opportunity to put his side ahead. It was all Portugal for the next few passages of play with Poland finding it difficult to find their way back into the game and the Portuguese looking the most likely side to score. With just over 20 minutes to go the ball found it's way to Milik who couldn't connect sweet enough with Patricio unfazed. With 15 minutes left of the 90, Ronaldo was becoming visibly angry with Joao Mario as he believed he was wasteful in front of goal but from a corner he header straight at the keeper with plenty of time and space. Portugal then introduced the hero against Croatia, Ricardo Quaresma for Joao Mario and he was met with jubilation by his own fans. Ronaldo then had a chance which was nearly turned into his own net by Fabianski. With 5 minutes to go, Cristiano Ronaldo was played through brilliantly by Monaco's Joao Moutinho but scuffed his half volley attempt from about 8 yards out and was Portugal's best opportunity to find a late winner again wasted by Ronaldo. Sporting holding midfielder William Carvalho gave away a stupid foul and picked up a yellow card which would rule him out of the semi final it Portugal were to reach it. With 90 minutes up, extra time would try and decide the semi finalists.
Ronaldo has another chance to give Portugal the lead at the start of extra time but couldn't sort out his feet when the ball found it's way to him in the box. With the first half of extra time coming to a close, Poland looked reasonably happy to take the game to penalties, having being successful in knocking out the Swiss in spot kicks. Both sides looked very fatigued as the second half of extra time came to its climax with both looking to maybe catch echother on the counter attack and conserve their energy. Poland looked to create a chance with 2 minutes to go, but Real Madrid defender Pepe got a crucial clearance as Lewandowski was waiting to pounce. Penalties would eventually decide the victors with both sides happy to bring the game to penalties.
Ronaldo got us underway, probably under manager orders with him usually preferring to score the deciding penalty, and the captain gave them the advantage with a fantastic penalty. Lewandowski stepped up first for the poles and made it 1-1, sending Patricio the wrong way. Youngster Renato Sanches stepped up to take Portugal's second and the 18 year old buried it with style and confidence. Milik converted his penalty to make it 2-2. Moutinho made it 3-2 with a well placed finish. Kamil Glik took Poland's 3rd penalty and the Torino man smashed the ball past the Portuguese keeper to level the scoring. Former Manchester United winger Nani took Portugal's 4th and coolly slotted the ball into the top right hand corner to give Portugal the advantage. Blaszczykowski stepped up but Rui Patricio pulled out a huge stop and left Ricardo Quaresma to put his country through to the semi finals and he duly obliged to make it 5-3
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