Portugal 0-0 Spain (2-4 after penalties)
Match Reports,
Last updated:
Spain booked their place in the Euro 2012 final with a 4-2 win on penalties as Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves missed in the shoot-out.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque included Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo in his starting line-up and it was a decision that didn't pay off, as the frontman failed to trouble the Portugal defence.
Indeed, it was the Portuguese who perhaps edged the opening 45 minutes of the tie and Cristiano Ronaldo fired just wide of the upright following some great build up play from Moutinho.
Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba both saw efforts miss the target for Spain, who uncharacteristically struggled to make a real impact on the game or control possession.
Negredo was removed from the action after just seven second-half minutes and his replacement Cesc Fabregas allowed Spain to dominate Portugal but they still couldn't create any real clear-cut opportunities.
The best chance of the second-half, and the initial 90 minutes, fell to Ronaldo in the closing stages of the game.
Pepe managed to clear Xabi Alonso's free-kick and his clearance found Nani, who worked the ball to Miguel Veloso.
Veloso found Raul Meireles, who unleashed Ronaldo but the Real Madrid man could only blaze the ball high and wide of Iker Casillas' goal in the last, and most significant, attack of the 90 minutes.
Spain looked a different team in extra time and the introductions of Barcelona man Pedro and Sevilla's Jesus Navas caused the Portuguese problems.
Iniesta and Navas saw efforts well saved by Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio, while Pedro nearly managed to create space with some clever runs but couldn't quite find space for a shot or produce a decent delivery, largely thanks to a towering performance in the Portugal defence from Pepe.
Neither side could find a goal in 120 minutes and it needed a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.
Spain won the toss and decided to go first and Xabi Alonso stepped up first but his effort was well saved by Patricio, who did well go get a hand to Alonso's powerful low drive.
However, Moutinho, who had been fantastic throughout the 120 minutes for his side, then saw his effort saved by Casillas to leave the score at 0-0 after a penalty apiece.
Iniesta, Pepe and Pique all scored their spot kicks to give Spain a 2-1 lead and then it appeared as if Alves was set to take Portugal's third but Nani jogged forward and pulled him back to take the spot kick, which he converted to level matters at 2-2.
Sergio Ramos stepped forward to take Spain's fourth and the Real Madrid defender made no mistake as he chipped the ball, in a similar style to Andrea Pirlo's penalty against England, with Patricio already committed to give Spain a 3-2 lead.
Alves then stepped forward to take his spot kick but the pressure had clearly effected the Portugal man and he didn't look comfortable as he placed the ball down, before he hammered his shot against the cross bar.
Fabregas scored the fifth and decisive penalty for Spain as his effort went into the back of the net off the post to secure a third consecutive appearance in the final of a major competition for the reigning world and European champions.


