Spain beat defiant Portugal on penalties to reach final
28 Jun 2012 7:30 PM GMT
Spain reached their third-successive European championship final on Thursday, beating a defiant Portugal 4-2 on penalties after their Euro 2012 semifinal ended goalless after extra time.
Cesc Fabregas scored the winning penalty to send Spain through after Portugal's Bruno Alves hit the crossbar.
Sunday's final in Kiev will be against Germany or Italy, who play in Warsaw on Thursday.
Spain began their second title defence with a cagey 1-1 draw against Italy before crushing Ireland 4-0 and surviving a couple of scares to overcome Croatia 1-0.
Two goals from Xabi Alonso brought a 2-0 victory over France in the quarterfinal.
Portugal started their campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany in Group B, but scraped through as runners-up, thanks to equally closely fought victories over Denmark, 3-2, and the Netherlands 2-1.
Ronaldo's 79th-minute header gave the 2004 finalists a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in the quarterfinal.
Cesc Fabregas scored the winning penalty to send Spain through after Portugal's Bruno Alves hit the crossbar.
Sunday's final in Kiev will be against Germany or Italy, who play in Warsaw on Thursday.
Spain began their second title defence with a cagey 1-1 draw against Italy before crushing Ireland 4-0 and surviving a couple of scares to overcome Croatia 1-0.
Two goals from Xabi Alonso brought a 2-0 victory over France in the quarterfinal.
Portugal started their campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany in Group B, but scraped through as runners-up, thanks to equally closely fought victories over Denmark, 3-2, and the Netherlands 2-1.
Ronaldo's 79th-minute header gave the 2004 finalists a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in the quarterfinal.
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