Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek was shown a red card off camera as Portugal’s Euro 2024 last-16 victory descended into chaos in the dying stages. Roberto Martinez’s side crept through to the quarter-finals on penalties after Cristiano Ronaldo missed a spot-kick in extra time, which caused wild scenes in Frankfurt.
Slovenia produced a valiant performance to silence Portugal’s all-star attack in normal time before Jan Oblak denied Ronaldo from the spot just before the second half of extra time.
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota won the penalty after he was brought down while charging into the box with the ball, which left Kek fuming with Italian referee Daniele Orsato.
The Slovenia boss’ dismissal wasn’t seen on TV, so viewers were left unaware. But BBC commentator Guy Mowbray mentioned it as the camera panned to Kek at the start of the second half of extra-time.
Despite Oblak rescuing his side by saving Ronaldo’s effort, Kek cut a frustrated figure as he watched on from the stands with his hand over his mouth.
Slovenia looked like they were about to cause one of the great European Championships shocks when Benjamin Sesko pounced on a Pepe mistake to burst towards the Portuguese goal.
But the highly-rated 21-year-old striker squandered a glorious one-on-one opportunity as Diogo Costa produced a heroic save.
Costa made the headlines again in the penalty shoot-out, saving all three of Slovenia’s penalties taken by Josip Ilicic, Jure Balkovec and Benjamin Verbic.
The 24-year-old Porto star became the first goalkeeper to ever save three penalties in a single shoot-out at the Euros, and it just so happened to be his first such appearance.
Ronaldo recovered from his emotional extra-time mishap to start Portugal’s scoring in the shoot-out, firing to Oblak’s left rather than his failed attempt to his right.
Bruno Fernandes then characteristically kept his cool from 12 yards, producing his signature hop and calm finish, also to Oblak’s left.
Bernardo Silva of Manchester City stepped up for the winning penalty and made no mistake, sending Portugal through to the quarter-finals.
The 2016 champions’ dramatic triumph set up a mouth-watering tie against France, a repeat of that final in Paris eight years ago.
Also on their side of the draw, fellow tournament favourites Germany and Spain will battle for a spot in the semi-finals in another exciting meeting.
On the other half, England will face Switzerland after edging past Slovakia on Sunday. Austria play Turkey and the Netherlands square off with Romania on Tuesday for the final two quarter-final spots.
