Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (pens 3-0): Diego Costa saves three penalties in shootout to save Cristiano Ronaldo blushes

Evening Standard

·1 July 2024

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (pens 3-0): Diego Costa saves three penalties in shootout to save Cristiano Ronaldo blushes

Cristiano Ronaldo went from tears to cheers after seeing a spot-kick in extra time saved

Diego Costa saved a remarkable three penalties as Portugal edged past Slovenia in a shootout after Cristiano Ronaldo had missed a spot-kick in extra time.

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Ronaldo was in floods of tears during extra time after being denied by Jan Oblak from 12 yards, but it was La Roja’s goalkeeper who proved the hero in the shootout.

Bernardo Silva struck the winning spot kick to eventually dispatch a battling Slovenia and reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 where they will meet France.

Neither side could fashion a goal and the game went to penalties, with Josep Ilicic having the first kick saved for the Slovenians before Ronaldo put his side ahead, and when Jure Balkovec's spot kick was saved the writing was on the wall.

Costa then saved from Benjamin Verbic, setting Silva up to confidently slot home the winner to put Portugal through to the last eight and a meeting with the French in Hamburg on Friday.

Additional reporting by Reuters.