- Fran Reilly
- Sun, Jun 26 2016
In a tense affair seemingly destined to head towards penalties, Portugal came alive with just three minutes left in extra-time to claim a 1-0 win over Croatia in Lens.
This game earned the dubious honour of being the first ever at the European Championships not to have a shot on target after 90 minutes. Even Ronaldo was subdued – he managed 32 shots across the three group games but didn't have one after 105 minutes of football against Croatia.
However, it was a Ronaldo shot, his only shot, which led to the goal as he latched onto a Nani pass to bring the first save of the game from either 'keeper and the rebound was gleefully nodded in by an unmarked Ricardo Quaresma to send Portugal through and Croatia home.
It was harsh on the Croatians who fashioned many chances, just not accurate ones.
It was a good night for Nani who became just the fourth Portuguese player to reach 100 caps. Ivan Perisic, meanwhile, will be less happy having come into the game sporting the chequered red and white design of the Croatia jersey on the side of his head.
Both sides sought to dominate the game in midfield in the early stages and as a result chances were at a premium throughout – it was 25 minutes before there was a chance at goal and the opportunity fell to Pepe.
A free-kick from the left-flank was swung into the area by Raphael Guerreiro and the Real Madrid defender rose highest above Domagoj Vida to win the header, but he could only put the effort off target. He held his head in his hands in disbelief and rightly too.
Five minutes later, Nani sloppily lost the ball in the middle of the park and Ivan Perisic was sent scampering free down the right-flank by Milan Badelj. The Inter Milan winger picked up the loose ball, cut inside Guerreiro and fired goalward. He tried to beat Rui Patricio at his near-post but could only hit the side-netting.
Mario Mandzukic hadn't seen an awful lot of the ball at this stage but he did have a chance to score in the 35thminute. Croatian skipper Darijo Srna swung in a corner but, under pressure from José Fonte and Andre Gomes, the Juventus striker put his header off target. Two minutes later, Vida had a headed opportunity for Croatia as he headed wide from Ivan Rakitic's free-kick.
Another Rakitic delivery just before half-time was cleared from the edge of the six yard box by Pepe with Vida arriving to convert if the Portugeuse centre-back hadn't read it so well. The resulting corner came to nothing after the referee blew for a foul by a Croatian player.
A quick Croatian corner in the 52nd minute almost yielded a shot on target. Marcelo Brozovic blazed over after receiving the ball from Srna. Four minutes later, Luka Modric wastefully blasted over the crossbar from distance.
Joao Mario and substitute Renato Sanches carved the Croatian defence open in the 57th minute, exchanging passes before the latter wasted the chance by slashing wide.
Then Croatia robbed themselves of a chance to go 1-0 up. Vida rose to head a Srna free-kick goalward but Mandzukic was just behind him in a far better position. The striker looked at Vida aghast and the defender put his head inside his jersey as he realised his error.
Three minutes later, Nani went down in the box under a challenge from Strinic. The Portuguese forward tried to be clever and shoulder a decent cross into the net when he should have just headed it. The follow through from Strinic's challenge left him floored. Next time he might head the ball.
Croatia almost capitalised in the 71st minute when Sanches lost possession in midfield, the ball eventually reaching Perisic at the back post who slashed a volley well off target. Nine minutes later, Perisic skied another effort well off target.
The last ten minutes passed by with the inevitability of extra-time as both sides struggled to fashion clearcut chances. Croatia started the extra period the brighter.
Srna saw his free-kick blocked by the wall and Perisic headed over from a Verdan Corluka cross moments later. Then Nikola Kalinic suddenly found himself in behind Fonte. With Pepe in pursuit, the substitute blasted his effort wide from the right side of the box.
Then Vida, guilty of missing headed opportunities already, effectively missed an open goal eight minutes from the end of extra-time when Patricio tripped while attempting to claim a corner. Once again, Vida's head went into his jersey. Two minutes later, Perisic almost had a sight at goal after a decent Croatian move, but he was crowded out, his shot blocked.
Three minutes from the end, Croatia almost won it, Perisic seeing his header tipped onto the post by Patricio, before Portugal did win it.
An excellent (unintentional) ball from Nani to Ronaldo at the backpost lead to the first shot on target all night. Danijel Subasic did well to make the point-blank save on his goal-line, but nobody tracked the run of Ricardo Quaresma who had the simple task of nodding into an empty net. Two shots on target in quick succession – we were spoiled.
There was still time for one last chance. It fell to Vida who once again failed to hit the target. He hooked his effort just wide of the far post. Croatia exit Euro 2016 while Portugal will face Poland in the quarter-finals.
Croatia: Danijel Subasic; Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka (Andrej Kramaric, 120), Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic; Marcelo Brozovic, Milan Badelj, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic; Ivan Rakitic (Marko Pjaca, 110); Mario Mandzukic (Nikola Kalinic, 88).
Subs not used: Lovre Kalinic (GK), Ivan Vargic (GK), Mateo Kovacic, Tin Jedvaj, Ante Coric, Duje Cop, Marko Rog, Sime Vrsaljko, Gordon Schildenfeld, Mateo Kovacic.
Booked: None.
Portugal: Rui Patricio; Cédric Soares, Pepe, José Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro; Joao Mário (Ricardo Quaresma, 87), William Carvalho, Adrien Silva (Danilo Pereira, 108), André Gomes (Renato Sanches, 50); Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Nani.
Subs not used: Anthony Lopes (GK), Eduardo Carvalho (GK), Eliseu, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho, Vieirinha, Joao Moutinho, Eder, Rafa Silva.
Booked: William Carvalho (78).
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain).
Attendance: 35,000.
Extratime Man of the Match: Pepe (Portugal).
You can see pictures from the game here by Al Robinson.
