Belgium reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Portugal in Seville on Sunday evening. Thorgan Hazard's long-range strike just before half time proved to be the difference between the sides, on a night of fine margins at La Cartuja.
2020 European Championship
1-0
Match Report
A largely quiet first half exploded into life after 42 minutes, as Thorgan Hazard picked up the ball midway into the Portugal half, before firing a fierce dipping effort past Rui Patricio to give his side the advantage at the break.
Fernando Santos rolled the dice soon after the start of the second half, bringing on Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix as he looked to haul his side back into the contest.
Portugal's best opportunity of the night came 10 minutes from time, as a cleared header was met by Raphael Guerreiro on the half-volley, only to see his effort come rebound off the inside of the post, as they failed to find a breakthrough.
Belgium now face a mouth-watering tie against Italy on Friday evening for a place in the semi-final.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start
5' MISS! Jota's shot wide out
22' CHANCE! Sanches' long shot wide out
25' CLOSE! Ronaldo's free-kick denied by Courtois
37' NICE TRY! Meunier's shot wide out
41' GOAL! Belgium 1-0 Portugal (Thorgan Hazard)
44' Yellow Card! Palhinha booked
48' Injured De Bruyne replaced by Mertens
56' Felix & Bruno replace Bernardo Silva & Moutinho
58' AGAIN! Jota's shot over the bar
60' CHANCE! Felix's header saved
62' Lukaku's shot over the bar
71' Yellow Card! Vermaelen booked
76' Yellow Card! Pepe booked
82' Ruben Dias' header denied by Courtois
83' OFF THE POST! Guerreiro nearly scores
Line-ups
Belgium XI: Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Witsel, Hazard, Alderweireld, Courtois, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Meunier, T Hazard, Tielemans
Subs: Mignolet, Mertens, Benteke, Sels, Boyata, Praet, Trossard, Carrasco, Batshuayi, Dendoncker, Denayer, J. Doku
Portugal XI: Ronaldo, Pepe, Patricio, Moutinho, Guerreiro, João Palhinha, Ruben Dias, R.Sanches, Bernardo, Jota, Dalot
Subs: Fonte, Anthony Lopes, Sérgio Oliveira, Danilo Pereira, Andre Silva, Rui Silva, Semedo, Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Felix, Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Mendes