The first semi-final of Euro 2016 championship took place on Wednesday night July 6 in Lyon with Wales facing Portugal, pitting 2 sides both led by Real Madrid ‘galacticos’ in a clash of styles.
Gareth Bale embracing Wales’ team ethic and applauding all efforts by his team mates, and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating all of Portugal’s moves and scoring chances.
After a very cagey first half where neither Portugal nor Wales really posed much of an offensive threat, and the only work for either goalkeeper came from a regulation save from a shot from the edge of the box, the match was effectively settled during a three minute spell five minutes into the second half.
Initially, Portugal won a needless central free kick fifteen yards into the Welsh half where ball was delivered into the box and headed out for a corner by Andy King. From the 50th minute left wing corner, the Welsh defence had a lapse of concentration where a mismatch led to Cristiano Ronaldo rising and outjumping James Chester at the far post and powering a fine header past Wayne Hennessey and into the net for the lead.
Unfortunately for Wales, they quickly gave away possession after the resulting kick off, and Portugal worked the ball down the left wing. From there the ball was played towards the edge of the box, where the ball fell to an unmarked Ronaldo 20 yards out in line with the right hand post, with the Welsh defenders caught on their heels on the edge of the 6 yard box. Ronaldo failed to strike his 53rd minute shot correctly. Instead of testing Hennessy, he drove it towards the centre edge of the 6 yard box where Nani, in front of Welsh captain Ashley Williams, with James Collins watching on, turned the ball past goalkeeper Hennessey.
