Euro 2020- Belgium beat Portugal 1-0: Hazard goal oust defending champions Portugal, Belgium book clash with Italy in QF- Belgium eliminated reigning champions Portugal with a 1-0 victory in the round of 16 at the European Championship on Sunday.
Thorgan Hazard scored a sensational long-range strike at the end of the first half to propel the Belgians into the quarterfinals and send Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. home at the Estadio Olímpico de la Cartuja in Seville.
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Euro 2020- Belgium beat Portugal 1-0: Hazard goal oust defending champions Portugal, Belgium book clash with Italy in QF
The win for Roberto Martinez’s men sets up a fascinating matchup with Italy in the last eight. But they may have to play the Italians without two of their biggest stars.
Belgium vs Portugal Highlights: A cagey first half saw its first goal three minutes before the half-time whistle when Hazard unleashed an unstoppable dipping shot from well outside of the box to put Belgium deservedly in front.
The goal was Hazard’s second at the tournament and put the Belgians on the front foot heading into the break.
Belgium were dealt a blow minutes after the restart when Kevin De Bruyne was subbed off for an apparent injury. The influential midfielder was replaced by Dries Mertens.
Belgium vs Portugal Highlights: De Bruyne sat down pointing to his ankle and shook his head. He seemed fine after he first picked up the injury on a tackle from behind during the first half, but he couldn’t continue after only two minutes in the second half.
The injury issues worsened minutes from full-time when Eden Hazard was taken off with an apparent hamstring injury after pulling out of a challenge and asking for a sub on the near touchline.
(Report first published by ESPN)
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