PORT' STORM
Ronaldo & Co. surge past Wales, into final
LYON, France — Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged Gareth Bale to propel Portugal into its second European Championship final, scoring a thumping header and then setting up Nani’s goal in a 2-0 win over Wales on Wednesday.
The goals came in the space of three minutes early in the second half, helping end Wales’ unlikely run to the semifinals in only its second-ever major tournament.
Ronaldo equaled France great Michel Platini’s record of nine goals in European Championships when he timed a prodigious leap to perfection and planted home a header in the 50th. The Real Madrid star then sent in a longrange shot that a sliding Nani diverted into the net from 10 meters.
Ronaldo— a serial winner in individual and team prizes in club football — will get another chance to win his first trophy on the international stage against either France or Germany in Sunday’s final at the Stade de France.
“It’s what we have dreamt of since the beginning,” Ronaldo said. “We knew it would be a long road and we’re still in the tournament.”
Portugal last competed in a final at Euro 2004, when the team surprisingly lost on home soil to Greece. A 19-year-old Ronaldo shed tears after that match, but he has managed to lead a much weaker side to another international showpiece.
Ronaldo shared a long conversation with Bale after the final whistle and the Madrid teammates embraced.
“It’s very disappointing to be so close to the final,” Bale said, “but we have to be proud.”
Competing in its first tournament since the 1958 World Cup, Wales has been one of the most popular stories of Euro 2016, topping its group and then beating Belgium in the quarters.
After the final whistle, Wales headed over to applaud their fans, who didn’t stop singing in the corner of the Stade de Lyon.
“We have no regrets,” Bale said. “We’re a proud nation and proud of what we achieved.”