Match ends, Belgium 1, Portugal 0.
A moment of class from Thorgan Hazard proved enough to knock out holders Portugal as Belgium continued their pursuit of a first major title by reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.
The Borussia Dortmund winger's swerving drive from 25 yards arrived late in a cagey first-half and carried Roberto Martinez's side into a mouth-watering meeting with Italy on Friday.
Portugal - who again only introduced Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes from the bench - will look back on key Diogo Jota chances, a Ruben Dias header that was saved and a late Raphael Guerreiro drive that struck the post.
Kevin De Bruyne's fitness may dominate headlines in the build-up to the Italy showdown in Munich after he limped off moments after half-time, and Belgium also lost Eden Hazard to a complaint late on.
The world's highest-ranked side may have key holes to fill but again they have showed they possess the grit to complement their undoubted quality.
Portugal endeavour comes too late
Martinez punched the air and shouted "yes" on the sound of the final whistle while Ronaldo crouched and beat the turf in frustration at Seville's Estadio de La Cartuja.
His side had perhaps shown their best football of the tournament in the second 45 minutes, amassing 15 of a lofty 23 shots on the night.
Jota fired a snap-shot over, Dias warmed the hands of Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois with a point-blank header, Guerreiro found the foot of the post and substitute Joao Felix dragged a late effort wide.
Manager Fernando Santos may well be asked where such a second-half display has been hiding.
On their route to the trophy in 2016 Portugal won just one tournament fixture inside 90 minutes and in reaching the last-16 stage this time around they had failed to inspire.
That they seemed so reluctant to use their unquestionable quality to dominate games is puzzling and whether Ronaldo - now 36 - graces another major tournament will now likely become a focus.
He will undoubtedly go on to move clear of former Iran striker Ali Daei given the pair currently share the record figure of 109 international goals.
His frustration at the final whistle though was tangible as after the highs of securing a first major honour in 2016, Portugal have flattered to deceive this time around.
Lukaku tamed but Belgium dig in
Martinez is now three wins away from delivering a first major honour for Belgium.
He duly concluded this win required his side to overcome the fact Portugal's best trait is "doing exactly what they need to do in the game to win".
And so it played out, with Belgium - now only beaten once in 27 outings - doing just enough to see off a side who have themselves achieved success by doing just enough. Martinez will be emboldened by the fact his group looked like a side who knew how to get over the line.
Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld - boasting more than 240 caps between them - were recalled, while the likes of Axel Witsel, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens - all past or close to 100 caps - simply underline the experience Martinez has to call upon.
Talisman Lukaku was quiet, touching the ball just 30 times. Only Portugal's Bernardo Silva - who played just 56 minutes - saw less of the ball of all the outfield players to start.
And Lukaku's lack of impact showed as Belgium served up just six shots on goal all night. Thorgan Hazard's effort - which curled away from Rui Patricio - was their standout moment and they appeared happy to contain Portugal rather than press for more.
De Bruyne was hacked down before the break and lasted just seconds of the second half, while Eden Hazard pulled up sharply moments from the finish.
Both would be a colossal miss against Italy, the only side who - like Belgium - won all of their group games and remain in the tournament.
Many have tipped Roberto Mancini's side to go all the way given their impressive displays so far.
Belgium may not have hit such entertaining heights here but there can be no doubt they pack enough of a threat to undo such opposition.
To knock out the four-time world champions and European champions of 1968 will go a long way to bolster hope that this might finally be Belgium's year.
Player of the match
T HazardThorgan Hazard
Belgium
Avg
- Squad number16Player nameT HazardAverage rating
7.58
- Squad number1Player nameCourtoisAverage rating
6.86
- Squad number10Player nameE HazardAverage rating
6.61
- Squad number9Player nameLukakuAverage rating
6.61
- Squad number7Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
6.47
- Squad number2Player nameAlderweireldAverage rating
6.45
- Squad number5Player nameVertonghenAverage rating
6.42
- Squad number3Player nameVermaelenAverage rating
6.33
- Squad number15Player nameMeunierAverage rating
6.32
- Squad number8Player nameTielemansAverage rating
6.19
- Squad number6Player nameWitselAverage rating
6.04
- Squad number14Player nameMertensAverage rating
5.58
- Squad number11Player nameCarrascoAverage rating
5.56
- Squad number19Player nameDendonckerAverage rating
5.27
Portugal
Avg
- Squad number16Player nameRenato SanchesAverage rating
6.90
- Squad number4Player nameRúben DiasAverage rating
5.69
- Squad number7Player nameCristiano RonaldoAverage rating
5.69
- Squad number10Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating
5.44
- Squad number5Player nameRaphael GuerreiroAverage rating
5.41
- Squad number23Player nameJoão FélixAverage rating
5.40
- Squad number8Player nameJoão MoutinhoAverage rating
5.27
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo DalotAverage rating
5.26
- Squad number9Player nameAndré SilvaAverage rating
5.14
- Squad number3Player namePepeAverage rating
5.14
- Squad number21Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
5.13
- Squad number1Player nameRui PatrícioAverage rating
5.12
- Squad number11Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
4.98
- Squad number13Player nameDanilo PereiraAverage rating
4.86
- Squad number24Player nameSérgio OliveiraAverage rating
4.80
- Squad number26Player nameJoão PalhinhaAverage rating
4.76
Line-ups
Belgium
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Courtois
- 2AlderweireldBooked at 81mins
- 3VermaelenBooked at 72mins
- 5Vertonghen
- 15Meunier
- 8Tielemans
- 6Witsel
- 16T HazardSubstituted forDendonckerat 90+5'minutes
- 7De BruyneSubstituted forMertensat 48'minutes
- 10E HazardSubstituted forCarrascoat 87'minutes
- 9Lukaku
Substitutes
- 4Boyata
- 11Carrasco
- 12Mignolet
- 13Sels
- 14Mertens
- 18Denayer
- 19Dendoncker
- 20Benteke
- 23Batshuayi
- 24Trossard
- 25Doku
- 26Praet
Portugal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Rui Patrício
- 20DalotBooked at 51mins
- 3PepeBooked at 77mins
- 4Rúben Dias
- 5Guerreiro
- 8João MoutinhoSubstituted forJoão Félixat 55'minutes
- 26João PalhinhaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forDaniloat 78'minutes
- 16Renato SanchesSubstituted forOliveiraat 78'minutes
- 10Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forBruno Fernandesat 55'minutes
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
- 21JotaSubstituted forAndré Silvaat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Nélson Semedo
- 6José Fonte
- 9André Silva
- 11Bruno Fernandes
- 12Lopes
- 13Danilo
- 18Neves
- 19Pereira Gonçalves
- 22Dantas da Silva
- 23João Félix
- 24Oliveira
- 25Nuno Mendes
- Referee:
- Dr. Felix Brych
- Attendance:
- 11,504
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away23
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away4
- Corners
- Home0
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Belgium 1, Portugal 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Belgium. Leander Dendoncker replaces Thorgan Hazard.
Post update
Attempt missed. João Félix (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by André Silva.
Post update
Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Danilo Pereira.
Post update
Attempt saved. André Silva (Portugal) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Belgium. Yannick Carrasco replaces Eden Hazard because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Portugal. Conceded by Thomas Vermaelen.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by André Silva.
Post update
Attempt missed. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Sérgio Oliveira (Portugal).
Post update
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Raphael Guerreiro (Portugal) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
Post update
Attempt missed. João Félix (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Rúben Dias (Portugal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Portugal. Conceded by Thorgan Hazard.
Booking
Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
João Félix (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Toby Alderweireld (Belgium).
Post update
Attempt missed. André Silva (Portugal) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
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Comments
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P.s. I really hope De Bruyne and Hazard are ok for the next round.
Horrible team.
Thank you Belgium.
I hope de Bruyne is OK.
So tiresome. Glad they've gone.
Oh hang on a minute, he wasn't playing for Man U!
Fingers crossed De Bruyne is fit for the next game.