| Goals | Goals |
|---|---|
| 7. Cristiano Ronaldo (79’) |
Ronaldo fires Portugal to semis
Match winner Ronaldo
They will now await the winners of Saturday's quarterfinal between France and Spain.
Portugal deserved their victory on the back of a more offensive display in the second half of this quarterfinal inside the National Stadium in Warsaw.
And it was only fitting that it would be their classy skipper who grabbed the match winner in the 79th minute, when he powered home a downward header from a right cross delivered by Joao Moutinho.
It was his third goal of the competition and his 35th goal for his country.
The first half was a cagey affair with Portugal skipper Ronaldo coming the closest to opening the scores in stoppage time.
The Real Madrid star turned very well inside the Czech goal area, controlled superbly before he fired against the base of the post with goalkeeper Petr Cech well beaten.
The Czechs, who were without the injured Tomas Rosicky, were first to settle in this clash and after quarter of an hour, they won three corners.
In the 17th minute, striker Milan Baros failed to connect a low cross from the right.
Portugal gradually come into the picture with Ronaldo showing his class against a more cohesive Czech side.
Ronaldo shot from inside the box was blocked by Cech on 24 minutes and nine minutes later, his acrobatic effort again from inside the Czech 18-yard box did not miss by much.
In the 39th minute, Portugal striker Helder Postiga would be forced off the pitch after he suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Hugo Almeida.
Portugal began the second half on the front foot.
First, Ronaldo’s free kick from a good position on 49 minutes again crashed against Cech’s goal and in the 58th minute, Nani’s shot from outside the box forced a save from the Czech goalkeeper.
Moments later, Almeida’s diving header from seven yards out found the back of the Czech net only to be flagged off for off side.
Midfielder Moutinho then got Cech to tip his rasping, goal-bound shot for a corner in the 64th minute.
Nani will also come close for Portugal in the 75th minute as the Czech Republic sat back in their defence to frustrate their opponents.
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