A goal each from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani was enough to see Portugal beat Wales 2-0 and ease into the final of Euro 2016.
Gareth Bale had the most notable chance of a fairly even first half but his effort from outside the box was straight at Rui Patrício who claimed with a minimum of fuss.
The second half was barely five minutes old when Ronaldo rose above the Wales defence to plant a firm header past Wayne Hennessey.
And Chris Coleman’s men barely had time to regain their composure when Nani slid in just three minutes later to poke home Ronaldo’s mishit shot and double his side’s advantage.
Bale was always going to be Wales’ most likely avenue back into the game, but Portugal were wise to his threat and restricted the Real Madrid man to efforts from distance, as Portugal pretty comfortably saw out the remainder of the match.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates their second goal
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT
Can Portugal take that final leap?
Whoever Cristiano Ronaldo and co play in the final they will be underdogs, but this Portugal side are a lot better than they are given credit for. Solid at the back, with a packed midfield and creative options ideally suited to springing counter-attacks and feeding Ronaldo with chances, this Portugal team are set up to play on the break. That’s just as well, because they will see very little of the ball against either of Germany or France in Paris on Sunday… but don’t rule Ronaldo’s team out.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – Cometh the hour, cometh Cristiano. Portugal’s main man delivered on the big stage, rising high to tower in a terrific opener before setting up the second with a sliced shot. There wasn’t much to separate the two teams, but Ronaldo’s world-class quality proved the difference in the end.
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates at the end of the Euro 2016 semi-final football match between Portugal and Wales at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Décines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on July 6, 2016
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Wales: Hennessey 6; Gunter 7, Chester 7, Collins 6, Williams 6, Taylor 6; King 7, Ledley 5, Allen 5; Robson-Kanu 6, Bale 7. Subs: Vokes 5, Church 5, Williams 5.
Portugal: Patricio 7; Cedric 6, Fonte 7, Alves 6, Guerreiro 7; Danilo 7, Joao Mario 7, Adrien 7, Sanches 7; Nani 7, Ronaldo 8. Subs: Gomes 6, Mourinho 6, Quaresma 5.
KEY MOMENTS
21’ – CROSS – Wales break and it's Bale on the ball. He cuts inside on to his left foot and goes for goal rather than look for one of the two players up with him, but the powerfully-struck shot is straight at the keeper. The options either side of Bale were well covered, but he'd have hoped to have done better with the shot in that sort of position.
Wales' forward Gareth Bale (L) and Portugal's midfielder Danilo Pereira vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 semi-final football match between Portugal and Wales at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Décines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on July 6, 2016.
Image credit: AFP
44’ – CHANCE – Ronaldo gets his first big chance, leaping like a salmon at the back stick and heading marginally over the bar. That was astonishing athleticism by Ronaldo to hang in the air and make contact with that cross, let alone get power on his effort.
50’ – GOAL! Wales 0-1 Portugal – It's a thumping header from Ronaldo, who generates incredible power from the corner to leave the keeper with no chance.
53’ – GOAL! Wales 0-2 Portugal – Nani makes it 2-0, beating the offside trap and poking home a sliced shot from distance by Ronaldo.
63’ – SHOT – Ronaldo takes a pop at goal from a free-kick (of course he does), but this time it's a decent hit and skims the crossbar on its way over.
78’ – SAVE – Wales give the ball away and Danilo has a great chance to make it 3-0. Hennessey makes the save, but it trickles through his legs and forces the stopper into a moment of panic to prevent Nani bundling the loose ball over the line.
80’ – STRIKE - A stunning strike by Bale fizzes towards the Portugal goal and draws an excellent save out of Patricio.
Wales' forward Gareth Bale shoots the ball during the Euro 2016 semi-final football match between Portugal and Wales at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Décines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on July 6, 2016
Image credit: AFP
STATS AND FACTS
Portugal have qualified for only their second major tournament final, following their semi-final win in Euro 2004.
Wales failed to score for the first time at Euro 2016.
This was Portugal’s first win in a competitive match by more than a single goal since October 2013.
Portugal’s win was their first in 90 minutes at the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played a direct hand in five of Portugal's eight goals at Euro 2016 (3 goals, 2 assists).
No player has scored more goals at the European Championships than Ronaldo (9 - joint with Michel Platini).
Ronaldo has now scored at all seven of the major international tournament he's played in for Portugal.
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) comforts Wales' forward Gareth Bale after the Euro 2016 semi-final football match between Portugal and Wales at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Décines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on July 6, 2016. Portugal won the
Image credit: AFP
MATCH IN A TWEET
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