<<Print>>

Portugal are through to the Semi-final stage of the ongoing Euro 2016 tournament courtesy a 5-3 penalty victory over Poland after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.

Ricardo Quaresma stepped up with his final kick of glory to put the Seleccao side into their second successive semis at the Euros.

The Polish dream started in an electric fashion with Lewandowski opening scoring in the second minute but when Renato Sanchez pulled even for Portuguese it was dream over and game over for Adam Nawalka's men after 120 minutes.

It was not too exciting a game and there were few magical moments to report but for Portugal it didn't matter how they qualified. They wanted to and they did in labour.

With cool heads, luck and great technique, Ronaldo's men still have a fighting chance to do what the Luis Figo golden generation could not do.

Perhaps the man to make that dream a reality is the Bayern bound baby, Renato Sanchez who kept the Portuguese dream alive with a stunning equaliser in the 33rd minute.

Sanchez struck from the edge of the box with his weaker left foot to cancel Lewandowski opener as early as the second minute.

The Polish big man got his first in the tournament and looked set to add another after shoving a challenge from Pepe but his final strike in the 16th minute let him down.

Five minutes later Poland will make another incursion with Krychowwiak in the fray but Pepe made amends this time with a timely interception. It looked more like a night for the men in white after a sweet sublime build play cut open the Portuguese defence but Milik went looking for Lewandowski when he could have gone for gold.

The only chance in the first half for Portugal fell to skipper Christiano Ronaldo but his shot was too feeble to beat Fabiansky in post for the Polish. Two minutes later the Real Madrid man was shoved to the  ground in what looked to be a legitimate penalty kick but the referee would have none of that.

Back from the recess it was Poland who nearly restored their lead but the Portuguese goal keeper was agile and effective in keeping Milik's, little flick from entering.