Diogo Costa was the hero for Portugal as he saved all three of Slovenia’s penalties in the shootout as Portugal avoided a huge upset to reach the EURO 2024 quarterfinals.
[ MORE: EURO 2024 schedule, bracket ]
After Portugal were held by a valiant Slovenian defensive effort during normal time, Jan Oblak saved Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty kick in the first half of extra time which left Ronaldo in tears.
Costa then saved brilliantly to deny Benjamin Sesko what would have surely been a winner and he then came up with three huge stops in the penalty kick shootout as Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva all scored to send Portugal through.
They will now face France in the quarterfinals on Friday in Hamburg for a spot in the semifinals.
Wild night ends with Portuguese relief, and a new hero
Cristiano Ronaldo is usually the hero for Portugal but his multiple free kicks, shots from distance and then his penalty kick were either all off target or denied by Jan Oblak. Ronaldo was left in tears as Slovenian’s incredible rearguard action was too much for the superstar veteran. Portugal needed a new hero and Diogo Costa delivered. Big time. It wasn’t just in the penalty kick shootout either. With Portugal still reeling in extra time from Ronaldo’s penalty being saved by the brilliant Oblak, Pepe made a big mistake and Sesko was through on goal. But Costa came up with a huge save and then went one (well, three) better. He made three stunning penalty kick saves in the shootout to send Portugal through to face France on Friday as Roberto Martinez’s side breathed a huge sigh of relief. Huge credit must go to Slovenia for the way they defended and hung in there in their first-ever knockout round game at the Euros. But Portugal’s new hero delivered an incredible quartet of saves to set up a mouthwatering quarterfinal with France. There is so much attacking quality in this Portugal side but they had their goalkeeper to thank for staying in the tournament.
Portugal vs Slovenia player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see the goalkeepers stole the show with Costa and Oblak making huge stops throughout. Ronaldo peppered the goal but couldn’t break through, while Slovenia’s defensive unit were heroic
What’s next?
Portugal and France square off in Hamburg in the quarterfinals at 5pm ET on Friday, July 5.
How to watch Portugal vs Slovenia, stream link and start time
Kick off: Monday (July 1), 3pm ET
Stadium: Frankfurt
How to watch on TV in USA: Fox Sports
Portugal vs Slovenia final score: 0-0 - Portugal win 3-0 on penalty kicks
Portugal vs Slovenia live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Penalties - Portugal 3-0 Slovenia
Josip Ilicic denied by Diogo Costa. What a save!
Cristiano Ronaldo scores - He puts his hand up to apologize.
Diogo Costa denies Balkovec with another superb stop!
Bruno Fernandes rolls it home. Portugal cruising.
Verbic denied by Diogo Costa again! He’s saved three-straight!
Bernardo Silva slams home and Portugal are through! Wow.
Full time in extra time: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia - We are going to penalty kicks!
Wow. Wow. Wow. What an effort from Slovenia that was. Heroes all over the pitch. They have taken Portugal to penalty kicks and their captain Jan Oblak will be fancying his chances of being the hero, especially after saving Cristiano Ronaldo’s spot kick. Buckle up. Here we go.
Sesko is in but Costa denies him!
Pepe with a mistake and Sesko is in... but Diogo Costa comes up with a huge save. Incredible drama. Slovenia with a golden chance to go ahead in the 114th minute!
Mistake from Pepe, Benjamin Sesko is in... but what a stop from Diogo Costa that is. What a chance for Slovenia to win it!pic.twitter.com/EzxOC8s8Fs
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) July 1, 2024
15 minutes to go in extra time
Portugal’s players are trying to console Ronaldo. He looks devastated. We are back underway. Are we going to penalty kicks?
Penalty to Portugal... But Oblak denies Ronaldo!
Jota ran in on goal and straight at Drkusic and he goes down. That looks harsh. The penalty is given but Ronaldo’s penalty is saved by Oblak. Ronaldo is then in tears after missing it. What a stop from Oblak as he makes an amazing save and the ball hits the post and goes out.
What a brilliant save from Jan Oblak to deny that penalty kick from Cristiano Ronaldo. Full stretch and tips the ball against the post. Slovenia's captain denies Portugal's captain. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/UCMGiJd7MN
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) July 1, 2024
Slovenia have a decent chance in extra time
Benjamin Verbic runs towards goal and his shot deflects wide. Very good chance for Slovenia. We are nearing the 100-minute mark now.
It finishes Portugal 0-0 Slovenia... and we are going to extra time!
Slovenia put in an incredible shift and Ronaldo just keep on shooting but Oblak is matching him. Portugal have been frustrated all night long and Slovenia looked fairly comfortable for most of that second half.
Oblak denies Ronaldo again
With just a minute left of normal time Ronaldo is played in but Oblak stands tall and denies Ronaldo. The whole stadium thought he was going to bury that.
Sesko with a big chance on the break but Pepe does so well
Slovenia break as Sesko powers away and he beats Pepe for pace, but Pepe gets back in and just does enough to put him off. Sesko scuffs his shot wide. Promising for Slovenia, who are very good on the counter.
Cancelo does so well but Slovenia block again
Joao Cancelo is playing so well down the right and he cuts inside brilliant and plays the ball in but there are about six Slovenian defenders right there blocking and throwing themselves in the way. Heroic defending.
Ronaldo drills a free kick but Oblak palms it away
Ronaldo drills yet another free kick at goal and Oblak pushes it away. That was shifting. Ronaldo is getting closer...
Slovenia are doing okay
Portugal still look more dangerous but Slovenia seem to really enjoy defending. They’re having a few chances on the break too. Sesko is putting himself about and has put Pepe on the floor. But the veteran is okay to continue.
Half time: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia
Basically exactly as we expected. Portugal peppering the Slovenian goal and whipping in crosses to Ronaldo but he’s got a few headers wrong and Slovenia’s defenders are doing really well to frustrate him. Leao has been sublime but Sesko and Slovenia have had a couple of chances on the break and they’re hanging in there.
So close right on half time, as Palhinha drags it wide
Right on half time Leao, who is causing havoc, cuts the ball back to Fulham’s Joao Palhinha on the edge of the box and his low shot is inches wide. He thought that was in. So did I!
Sesko drives forward but hits straight at Costa
Slovenia win the ball back and Benjamin Sesko drives forward before smashing a shot on goal, but it’s straight at Diogo Costa. Slovenia having a little go before half time.
Oblak denies Ronaldo, then the superstar smashes a free kick over
A brilliant run and cross from Joao Cancelo finds Ronaldo but he can’t get enough power on his header as the defender got a touch on it, and Oblak saves. Moments later Ronaldo has a free kick 25 yards out and he drills it just over.
The game has settled down now
Slovenia are seeing more of the ball and Portugal haven’t been able to keep up their early tempo.
Fernandes and Ronaldo can’t connect
Another brilliant cross from the right from Bernardo Silva but it is just too high for Ronaldo and then Fernandes can’t tap home at the back post. Superb from Silva. Portugal dominating.
Ronaldo is in but takes a heavy touch
Cristiano Ronaldo is played in but can’t quite get the ball out from under his feet and Slovenia do really well to clear the danger. Portugal having some joy early on.
Big chance for Portugal early on!
A cross is whipped in from the right and Ronaldo can’t quite get his head on it and Karnicnik clears just ahead of Leao. Great cross. Great defending. From the resulting corner Ruben Dias is free at the back post but slips as he shoots and puts it wide.
Portugal lineup
Costa; Cancelo, Dias Pepe, Mendes; Vitinha, Palhinha; Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo
Slovenia lineup
Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Portugal team news, focus
Just a wickedly-deep selection of talent on display for Roberto Martinez to organize for any given game. A trio of world-class keepers and a who’s who of midfield creativity help an attack of embarrassing riches that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, and more.
Slovenia team news, focus
Kurtic’s 92 caps and Josip Ilicic’s 82 have both in the program’s all-time top five, while Ilicic, Sesko, and Andraz Sporar are top 10 in goals for Slovenia.
Portugal vs Slovenia prediction
Portugal could just win the whole thing again, but Oblak can help flip that script. Still, it’s a huge ask. Portugal 2-1 Slovenia.