Portugal v Spain

Portugal 0

Spain 0

ET 30 +1
FT 90 +4
HT 0-0

Spain win 4-2 on penalties

Spain celebrate reaching the Euro 2012 final

Fabregas penalty puts Spain into final

By Ben Smith BBC Sport

Cesc Fabregas was the hero again as Spain kept alive their hopes of defending the European title with a dramatic shootout win in Dontesk.

The Barcelona midfielder put Spain into Sunday's Euro 2012 final, drilling his penalty in off the left-hand post to spark scenes of jubilation.

Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves missed for Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo a frustrated, unused fifth penalty-taker.

The match finished 0-0 after extra-time with neither side doing enough to win.

“For Spain to play that badly for 90 minutes and then pick themselves up for extra-time is the sign of a really top side”

Alan Hansen Match of the Day analyst

It took until half past midnight local time to get there, but Fabregas, who had scored the winning penalty in the Euro 2008 quarter-final win over Italy, ensured Spain proceeded to a final against Germany or Italy on Sunday and remain on course for an unprecedented third successive tournament victory.

The world champions have now won their past nine knockout games at major tournaments without conceding a goal, and are unbeaten in their last 19 competitive matches.

Neither side had produced their fluent best during only the second 0-0 draw of the tournament. At times it was a bad-tempered affair and the apparently inevitable shootout made a nervy start as goalkeepers Rui Patricio and Iker Casillas denied Xabi Alonso and Moutinho respectively in the first round.

Andres Iniesta calmly put Spain in front, only for Pepe to keep Portugal on terms with a clinical low finish. Spain defender Gerard Pique found the bottom left-hand corner of the net, but Nani responded by firing his spot-kick high into the roof of the net to make it 2-2.

But when Spain's Sergio Ramos nonchalantly chipped his penalty beyond Patricio and Alves hit the bar for Portugal, it was left to Fabregas to send Spain into the final and spark memories of 2008 when their footballing history changed forever as a nation remembered how to win.

It had been billed as a clash of Ronaldo, the ultimate individualist, and Vicente Del Bosque's finely tuned orchestra - Ronaldo against Spain, Real Madrid against Barcelona, individual brilliance against the collective mastery of the defending world and European champions.

What nobody had accounted for, however, was Spain playing out of tune for long periods - Portugal were the conductors as inspiration gave way to perspiration in Donetsk.

Ronaldo was a constant danger. But at no stage did Spain man-mark him, subject him to rough-house treatment or even cut off the supply from the excellent Moutinho.

Spain's plan simply was to use the ball to mark Ronaldo, controlling the match through possession in an attempt to render him impotent.

Portugal had other ideas. Their physicality and unswerving desire in midfield prevented Spain settling into their familiar rhythm. At every turn, Xavi and Iniesta found a willing opponent, pressing Spain high up the field and forcing mistake after frustrating mistake.

There were warning signs that Spain might find their rhythm when Iniesta linked up with Jordi Alba down the left flank after eight minutes. The Barcelona midfielder collected Alba's pass, drifted beyond two defenders and cut the ball back only for Alvaro Arbeloa to thump a first-time shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

Opportunities such as that soon became the exception rather than the rule, however. Tempers flared at times, passes were misplaced and Portugal grew in confidence.

Ronaldo's confidence was never in question. After 12 minutes, he reduced Gerard Pique to vain pursuit, surging beyond the Barcelona defender with that remarkable power steering only for his delicate cross to be picked off Nani's head by goalkeeper Casillas.

A left-foot snap-shot found the side netting and, with half-time approaching, he spun away from Sergio Ramos, winning a free-kick and responding with that chest-out, hands-on-hips pose he has trademarked. Ronaldo was in the mood.

Spain were out of their comfort zone but their individual brilliance made them a danger on the rare occasions they did attack. Iniesta and Xavi combined well midway through the first half only for the former to curl his shot agonisingly over the crossbar.

After an hour Del Bosque had seen enough, abandoning his original plan to use a traditional centre forward in Alvaro Negredo by introducing Fabregas. The ineffective David Silva also made way for Jesus Navas as Spain sought width.

Spanish success

Spain will play their fourth European Championship final on Sunday (1964, 1984, 2008 and 2012). They have lost just one (1984)
Cesc Fabregas also scored the last penalty in the 4-2 victory over Italy in the quarter-final of Euro 2008
Wednesday's match was the first time since that match in 2008 that a Spain match had finished goalless

Briefly, Xavi began receiving the ball in advanced positions more regularly, showing the poise and the grace to dribble into dangerous areas.

At the other end, Ronaldo thumped a dipping free-kick over the bar after 73 minutes but Portugal's raids were growing more infrequent as they were forced to rely on set-pieces. Ten minutes later, Ronaldo repeated the trick and, as the game ticked into injury time, the Real Madrid man had a chance to win it.

Portugal broke like a sprint-relay team as a Spain free-kick was cleared. The tireless Miguel Veloso found Raul Meireles, but the Chelsea man's pass forced Ronaldo to check his run down the left flank, and his shot was dragged wide.

Fatigue was beginning to show in Portugal's play and it was Spain who revived in extra-time to come as close as at any point to breaking the deadlock.

Navas might have done better with a shot, from which Alba collected and picked out Iniesta's surging run only for the midfielder to see his close-range shot pushed round the post.

Ramos thundered a free-kick inches over the bar from 30 yards moments later, before Patricio was forced into action again, turning Navas's fierce low shot away.

It was all Spain now, and Fabregas put Pedro through on goal with a delightful touch on the half-way line but Portugal flooded back before the Barcelona forward could pull the trigger.

It was a moment that encapsulated the contest - Spain pushed for a winner, desperate to avoid penalties but Fabregas ensured they need not have worried.

Lineup, Bookings (9) & Substitutions (6)

Portugal

12 Rui Patricio
02 Alves Booked
03 Pepe Booked
05 Coentrao Booked
21 Joao Pereira Booked
04 Veloso Booked (Custodio - 106' )
08 Joao Moutinho
16 Meireles (Varela - 112' )
17 Nani
07 Ronaldo
09 Almeida (Oliveira - 81' )

Substitutes

01 Eduardo
22 Beto
13 Costa
14 Rolando
19 Miguel Lopes
06 Custodio
15 Ruben Micael
20 Viana
10 Quaresma
11 Oliveira
18 Varela
23 Postiga

Spain

01 Casillas
03 Pique
15 Ramos Booked
17 Arbeloa Booked
18 Alba
06 Iniesta
08 Xavi (Pedrito - 87' )
14 Alonso Booked
16 Busquets Booked
21 Silva (Navas - 60' )
11 Negredo (Fabregas - 54' )

Substitutes

12 Valdes
23 Reina
02 Albiol
04 Martinez
05 Juanfran
10 Fabregas
20 Cazorla
22 Navas
07 Pedrito
09 Torres
13 Mata
19 Llorente

Ref: Cakir

Att: 51,500

Match Stats

Possession 41 59

Shots

12 13

On target

3 6

Corners

6 7

Fouls

28 19

Live Text Commentary

125:54 Penalty

Francesc Fabregas scores a penalty. Portugal 2-4 Spain on penalties.

125:12

Spot kick missed by Eduardo Bruno Alves.

124:18 Penalty

Garcia Sergio Ramos scores a penalty. Portugal 2-3 Spain on penalties.

123:29 Penalty

Penalty scored by Luis Nani. Portugal 2-2 Spain on penalties.

122:50 Penalty

Gerard Pique scores a penalty. Portugal 1-2 Spain on penalties.

122:12 Penalty

Penalty scored by Kleper Pepe. Portugal 1-1 Spain on penalties.

121:26 Penalty

Andres Iniesta scores a penalty. Portugal 0-1 Spain on penalties.

120:44

Penalty taken by Felipe Joao Moutinho saved by Iker Casillas.

120:05

Penalty taken by Xabi Alonso is saved by Pedro Rui Patricio.

120:01

The players are ready for the drama of the penalty shoot-out.

120:00 +0:38

The match is going to penalties.