Euro 2016: Quaresma sends Portugal into last eight

Ricardo Quaresma scored in the 117th minute as Portugal booked their spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 with a 1-0 win over Croatia in Lens on Saturday night.
A disappointing last-16 tie appeared to be heading for a penalty shootout, but Quaresma headed home three minutes before the end of extra-time to send Fernando Santos’s team into the final eight.
Portugal appeared to find their rhythm as play developed, but Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani were struggling to get into the match due to a deep and stern Croatian back-line, led by the strong Vedran Corluka.
Like Modric, Mario Mandzukic also returned from injury to start for Croatia, but the Juventus striker headed his best chance of the first period over the crossbar 10 minutes before the break.
There were only four attempts in the first 45 minutes in Lens and neither goalkeeper had a save to make. Croatia shaded the possession with 60%, but neither team did enough in the first half to deserve to enter the break with a lead.
Croatia had a wonderful chance to take the lead in the 52nd minute when Ivan Rakitic delivered a short corner into Marcelo Brozovic after the Portuguese defence had gone to sleep, but the midfielder fired over from close range.
Croatia again came close just past the hour when Domagoj Vida met a wicked delivery from Darijo Srna, but the ball flew wide of the post as Portugal survived another dangerous moment in the second period.
Portugal had a strong shout for a penalty in the 64th minute when Nani went down inside the box under a challenge from Vida, but the referee was not interested. It was Fernando Santos’s side that continued to search for the opening goal during a strong period, although Croatia remained a threat on the counter-attack.
It was Croatia that started the extra-time period on the front foot and Perisic came close with a clever header five minutes into the first half, but his effort was just too high of Rui Patricio’s net, before Nikola Kalinic missed from inside the box.
The second half of extra-time started still without a single shot on target and there were no indications that one would arrive as both teams continued to struggle in the final third of the field.
There was to be heartbreak on the counter-attack for the Croatians as Nani’s low strike fell to Ronaldo and his effort was saved straight into the path of Quaresma, who headed home to set up a quarter-final with Poland next Thursday in Marseille.