Germany's Under 21 national team have not qualified for the semifinals of the European Championships. In Mainz the Germans lost 1-2 against Portugal. Thus Portugal will play the semifinal in Bochum against Italy on Saturday.
The Portuguese had to win to keep alive their slim hopes of progressing from a pool already won by Sweden, and although Bastian Schweinsteiger's goal cancelled out Hugo Almeida's opener, Lourenço produced a 79th-minute marvel to earn his side a semi-final spot against Italy in Bochum on Saturday.
The match in Mainz was decided by Lourenco in the 78th minute. The striker lashed a ferocious, unstoppable shot past German goalkeeper Tim Wiese after being teed up by Carlitos' clever header.
In the first half Hugo Almeida scored for Portugal in the 24th minute. The striker latched onto a superb long ball from Jorge Ribeiro and beat the advancing Wiese with his pace to lift the ball over the goalkeeper.
Schweinsteiger then brought the hosts back into the game with his goal in the 41th minute. The forward made the most of a defensive error from Joao Paulo to slip the ball past Portugese goalkeeper Moreira.
However, after Lourenço's powerful finish put Portugal in pole position, the home side were unable to beat Moreira and find the equaliser that would have carried them through. After a flurry of late yellow cards and a hectic three minutes of time added on, Romão's side held on to progress.
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[bild2]Germany's Under 21 national team have not qualified for the semifinals of the European Championships. In Mainz the Germans lost 1-2 against Portugal. Thus Portugal will play the semifinal in Bochum against Italy on Saturday.
The Portuguese had to win to keep alive their slim hopes of progressing from a pool already won by Sweden, and although Bastian Schweinsteiger's goal cancelled out Hugo Almeida's opener, Lourenço produced a 79th-minute marvel to earn his side a semi-final spot against Italy in Bochum on Saturday.
The match in Mainz was decided by Lourenco in the 78th minute. The striker lashed a ferocious, unstoppable shot past German goalkeeper Tim Wiese after being teed up by Carlitos' clever header.
In the first half Hugo Almeida scored for Portugal in the 24th minute. The striker latched onto a superb long ball from Jorge Ribeiro and beat the advancing Wiese with his pace to lift the ball over the goalkeeper.
Schweinsteiger then brought the hosts back into the game with his goal in the 41th minute. The forward made the most of a defensive error from Joao Paulo to slip the ball past Portugese goalkeeper Moreira.
However, after Lourenço's powerful finish put Portugal in pole position, the home side were unable to beat Moreira and find the equaliser that would have carried them through. After a flurry of late yellow cards and a hectic three minutes of time added on, Romão's side held on to progress.
