Portugal and Ronaldo save face as Costa’s shootout heroics sink Slovenia
Apology accepted. In fairness, Cristiano Ronaldo simply does not shirk responsibility and by taking and scoring the first penalty in a shootout victory over Slovenia, the Portugal captain made amends for failing to score his spot kick in extra time, which was saved magnificently by Jan Oblak.
In the end it was the Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa who was the hero, making three extraordinary saves, the last of which thwarted Benjamin Verbic down to his right. Even Ronaldo seemed a touch remorseful as Slovenia, whose steely resistance was eventually broken in the cruellest of manners, were undone. The more likely penalties became, the twitchier Portugal grew but they will now play France in Hamburg on Friday.
