Substitute Ricardo Quaresma scored in the 117th minute to help Portugal beat Croatia 1-0 Saturday and advance to the European Championship quarterfinals.
Portugal settled a poor game with its only serious attack, when Cristiano Ronaldo’s one shot all match was pushed by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic across the goalmouth. Quaresma stooped to head the ball into an unguarded goal from close range.
Portugal broke away after Croatia forward Ivan Perisic struck the post with a shot.
Portugal will play Poland in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Marseille.
GOAL!!! Ricardo Quaresma scores for Portugal in the 117th minute. Portugal leads Croatia 1-0.
Portugal and Croatia are heading to extra time, tied 0-0 after a poor 90 minutes of play at the European Championship.
Neither team has managed to aim a shot or header on target, and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has not had a single attempt on goal.
Portugal showed more attacking intent when 18-year-old Renato Sanches came on as a 50th-minute substitute. Sanches had a clear shooting chance in the 57th but pulled his right-footed shot well wide.
The teams will play 30 minutes of extra time, and a penalty shootout looms if they are still level.
The winner will play Poland in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Marseille.
Portugal and Croatia are tied 0-0 at halftime in a mistake-filled match at the European Championship.
Cristiano Ronaldo saw little of the ball in Portugal’s attack, and Croatia creative midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were closely marked.
Neither side managed an attempt on goal until the 25th minute in Lens. Even then, Portugal defender Pepe headed a free kick over the crossbar from what replays appeared to show was an offside position.
Croatia’s first effort was Ivan Perisic’s 30th-minute shot, which he dragged wide of the goal.
The winner will play Poland in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Marseille.
Portugal and Croatia are tied 0-0 at halftime in a mistake-filled match at the European Championship.
Cristiano Ronaldo saw little of the ball in Portugal’s attack, and Croatia creative midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were closely marked.
Neither side managed an attempt on goal until the 25th minute in Lens. Even then, Portugal defender Pepe headed a free kick over the crossbar from what replays appeared to show was an offside position.
Croatia’s first effort was Ivan Perisic’s 30th-minute shot, which he dragged wide of the goal.
The winner will play Poland in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Marseille.
Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic are back in the Croatia lineup to face Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates at the European Championship.
Modric and Mandzukic both had muscle injuries and missed Croatia’s 2-1 win over defending champion Spain. They replace Marko Rog and Nikola Kalinic as Croatia reverts to the lineup that started a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic.
Ronaldo will lead Portugal’s attack as he seeks a ninth career goal at European Championships, which would match the all-time mark set by France great Michel Platini. He plays alongside Nani, who is making his 100th international appearance.
Portugal made four changes, including three in defense, from the lineup that started a 3-3 draw with Hungary on Wednesday.
Defenders Cedric, Jose Fonte and Raphael Guerreiro, plus midfielder Adrien Silva, come in for Vieirinha, Ricardo Carvalho and Eliseu in defense, plus midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Portugal had only two full days of rest since finishing third in Group F, one day less than Croatia, which topped Group D.
Here are the lineups for the match between Croatia and Portugal in Lens:
Croatia: Croatia: Danijel Subasic, Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic, Luka Modric, Milan Badelj, Ivan Perisic, Ivan Rakitic, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Mandzukic.
Portugal: Rui Patricio, Cedric, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro, Andre Gomes, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Joao Mario, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo.