Portugal managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2016 after defeating Poland in the penalty shoot-out.
The 90 minutes ended with both the teams level on 1-1, Lewandowski scoring in the 2nd minute for the Polish and Renato Sanches equalising for the Portuguese in the 33rd minute.
The game was even level after extra time and it had to be settled in a penalty shoot-out.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo led the team in the penalties as Rui Patricio saved Jakub Blaszczykowski’s shot and Ricardo Quaresma scored the deciding penalty for Portugal to give his team a 5-3 win.
The star man was not the usual suspect-Cristiano Ronaldo but rather 18-year-old Renato Sanches who was starting his first game for Portugal.
Sanches scored with a spectacular shot from distance to cancel out Robert Lewandowski‘s early goal for Poland, and then converted his penalty in the shoot-out.
Renato Sanches (R) celebrates after s coring against Poland at Euro 2016.Source AFP
Portugal coach Fernando Santos was pleased by the performance of the teenager stressing that Sanches’ task was to change things.
“Things weren’t going our way and I called Renato to change something. and we were lucky enough to have him score,” Santos said.
“He played a great game. He is still growing and has a lot to offer. He will be a better player in the future.” He added.
Sanches became the youngest player to score in a knockout round at the continental competition at 18 years and 316 days old.
Portugal reached the semifinals of the football tournament without winning any of their matches in regular time while Poland saw their luck of winning a penalty shoot-out in the round-of-16 run out.
Portugal will play the winner between Belgium or Wales in Lyon on July 6.