Ronaldo’s ‘dream’ still alive
Portugal into semis with shootout victory
Cristiano Ronaldo took his “dream” of an international title another step closer when Portugal beat Poland in a penalty shootout to reach the European Championship semifinals on Thursday in Marseille, France.
Robert Lewandowski scored barely 100 seconds into the match before Portugal unleashed the player who many say could lead the country’s post-Ronaldo era.
Making his first start at Euro 2016, Renato Sanches, a powerful 18-year-old and already a 35 million euro ($38 million) player, smashed home a 25-meter drive to equalize the match that went into extra time and then penalties.
Sanches followed Ronaldo in hitting home his spot kick as Portugal won 5-3, having again failed to win a game in the allotted 90 minutes. That did not prevent relieved Portu- guese celebrations.
Ronaldo said it had been an “unforgettable” night as Portugal had reached their target of a semifinal place. But the Real Madrid star acknowledged again that the prize he really cherishes is a world or European title. And at 31, he knows time is running out. “The dream is getting closer and anything can happen now,” said the Real Madrid star. “I’m not missing anything [in honors] and even if my career finished today I would still feel privileged.
“But I’ve always said, and I don’t hide it, that I would love to win a title with the national team.” Poland started strongly, with Lewandowski scoring his first goal of Euro 2016 before the stadium had settled. Kamil Grosicki hurried past Southampton right back Cedric Soares to deliver a great cross for Lewandowski to drive past a flailing Rui Patricio as Poland made a flying start.
It was the Polish striker’s first goal of the competition, after hitting a record 13 in qualifying.
Sanches, Lewandowski’s new teammate at Bayern Munich, came to Portugal’s rescue.
German referee Felix Brych waved away Ronaldo’s claims for a penalty on 31 minutes despite replays suggesting the Real Madrid star was bundled over by center back Michal Pazdan as he went to meet a cross.
Two minutes later, Sanches collected Nani’s cutback from the right side of the area and hit a fierce shot that deflected off Grzegorz Krychowiak and beat Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.
Portugal should have hit the winner on 85 minutes, but after sneaking behind Pazan to meet a high ball from substitute Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo’s left foot failed to connect with what looked like a simple chance.
Extra time was notable more for the pitch invader who tried to reach Ronaldo than for real scoring chances. Fourteen security personnel carried the Ronaldo fan off after he was caught.
Goalkeeper Patricio and Ricardo Quaresma were Portugal’s shootout heroes. Patricio dived left to save Jakub Blaszczykowski’s tame fourth shot for the Poles, who had reached the quarterfinals for the first time.
Quaresma was next up for Portugal and made no mistake firing high into the net to beat Fabianski.