Portugal reached the final of Euro 2016 courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Wales in their last-four clash in Lyon on Wednesday.
Two quick fire goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani at the start of the second half proved to be the difference as Portugal ended Wales’s remarkable run at the competition to reach just their second European Championship final.
Portugal, in their seventh semi-final at a major tournament, enjoyed more of the ball early on but struggled to make much of a breakthrough themselves as Wales dealt with a number of crosses into the box.
Portugal were largely limited to long-range efforts throughout the first half, and Adrien Silva had one such shot shortly after the half-hour mark when he dragged his strike comfortably wide.
It was Ronaldo who broke the deadlock, towering above Chester in the area to power home a header and equal Michel Platini’s all-time record of nine goals at European Championships.
Ronaldo soon turned provider as Portugal turned the game on its head with a second goal in the space of three minutes, although it was an inadvertent assist as his mis-hit shot fell into the path of Nani, who slid in to turn the ball home.
Bale was on a one-man mission to haul his side back into the reckoning, but he was limited to speculative long-range efforts that test Patricio on a couple of occasions.
Ronaldo had one late chance to move out on his own as the competition’s highest ever goalscorer, but Hennessey drove him too far out wide and the Portugal skipper couldn’t squeeze the ball in from a tight angle.
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