n the fifth Round of 16 match of Euro 2024, Portugal faced off against Slovenia, with both nations vying for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Portugal had secured the top spot in Group F after winning their first two matches—2-1 against the Czech Republic and 3-0 against Turkey. However, a heavily rotated squad led to a surprising 2-0 defeat against Georgia in their final group game.
Cristiano Ronaldo, aiming to become the oldest scorer in European Championship history, has yet to find the net in this tournament. Slovenia, advancing as one of the best third-place teams from Group C, secured their spot after drawing all three of their group matches—1-1 against Denmark, 1-1 against Serbia, and 0-0 against England.
This clash marked Slovenia’s first knockout stage match in a major tournament, while it was Portugal’s 26th. The previous encounter between these two teams resulted in a 2-0 friendly win for Slovenia in March.
Slovenia faced the challenge without left-back Erik Janza, who started all their group matches but was suspended for this game. The winner of this match would face France in the quarterfinals.
The match began with Portugal nearly taking the lead in the third minute. Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Leao came close to threatening Jan Oblak in Slovenia’s goal after a cross from the left, but Slovenian defenders intervened.
In the seventh minute, Ronaldo drove into the penalty area but lost the ball before shooting. The Slovenian defense appeared determined to disrupt Portugal’s star player early on.
Ronaldo had another chance in the 13th minute with a well-placed header, but he missed the target, frustrating the Portuguese fans.
By the 20th minute, Slovenia had begun to gain control, matching Portugal’s early offensive pressure. The game’s tempo slowed as Slovenia found their footing.
Rafael Leao earned a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 30th minute after being brought down by Slovenian defender Drkušić. Ronaldo’s powerful shot from the free kick sailed over the crossbar.
Despite several opportunities, including another missed header by Ronaldo in the 35th minute and a free kick in the 37th minute that went wide, Portugal failed to score in the first half. Joao Palhinha’s shot that hit the post in stoppage time highlighted their frustration.
Portugal continued to dominate in the second half, with Joao Cancelo’s impressive dribbling creating chances, but they struggled to convert them. Slovenia posed occasional threats but lacked the same offensive firepower.
In the 54th minute, Portugal was awarded a free kick after Joao Cancelo was fouled. Ronaldo’s powerful shot was saved by a well-positioned Oblak.
Slovenia had their best chance in the 60th minute when Benjamin Sesko broke through the Portuguese defense but was thwarted by a recovering Pepe.
As the game entered the final minutes, Portugal’s attempts to break the deadlock intensified. Ronaldo’s shot in the 89th minute was superbly saved by Oblak, who managed to hold onto the ball.
With the match still goalless after 90 minutes, it went into extra time.
The first half of extra time saw a more balanced contest. Diogo Jota won a penalty for Portugal after being brought down in the box. Ronaldo stepped up to take it, but Oblak made a stunning save.
The second half of extra time lacked intensity until Pepe’s mistake allowed Sesko a clear shot on goal. However, Portugal’s goalkeeper Costa made a crucial save to keep the score level.
The match ended in a dramatic 0-0 draw, leading to a penalty shootout to decide the winner. Portugal will have to regroup after a series of missed opportunities, while Slovenia can celebrate their resilient defensive performance and Oblak’s heroics.