Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved three Slovenia penalties to earn his side a 3-0 shoot-out victory in a dramatic Euro 2024 last-16 clash on Monday night.
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears after missing a penalty in the first period of extra-time in the goalless tie in Frankfurt.
Ronaldo, however, recovered to convert in the shoot-out as Portugal scraped through to set up a blockbuster clash with France in the quarter-finals.
Slovenia battled valiantly to keep Portugal at bay, with Jan Oblak making a stunning save to keep out Ronaldo’s penalty after Diogo Jota was fouled.
However, Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva all scored in the shoot-out and Slovenia’s trio missed, sending the Selecao through in heart-stopping fashion.
The former Real Madrid forward said: “First it was sadness and then it was joy, that’s what football gives you, inexplicable moments, a bit of everything.
“I didn’t make a single mistake this year and when I needed something the most, Oblak saved it.
“Slovenia spent the whole game defending and when that happens, it all becomes difficult.”
Ronaldo, 39, is still without a goal at the tournament in four appearances, having scored in the five previous editions of the Euros.
The Euro 2016 winners dominated the ball and created their first chance after 12 minutes when Silva’s inviting cross just evaded Ronaldo and Fernandes could not turn home at the far post.
Slovenia, playing in their first-ever knock-out match at a major competition, maintained their defensive shape well and limited Portugal’s opportunities.
Meanwhile, France again failed to thrill but got over the line thanks to Jan Vertonghen’s 85th-minute own goal.
Despite boasting a richly talented squad led by Kylian Mbappe, the 2022 World Cup finalists’ only three goals in four games so far in Germany have come from two own goals and a penalty.
France and Portugal join Germany and Spain, who also face off on Friday, in a heavyweight top half of the draw.
England take on Switzerland in the quarter-finals on the other side of the draw.
The final two places in the last eight will be decided on Tuesday.
In-form Austria are aiming to reach the quarter-finals at the Euros for the first time in their history against Turkey, who will again be backed by a massive support, in Leipzig.
The Netherlands are favourites to bounce back from their 3-2 defeat to Austria, which saw them finish third in Group D, when they take on Romania in Stuttgart.
