Portugal in Semis After Dramatic Penalty Shoot-out Win over England.

The first quarter-final of these European Championships had already been christened with many titles before the game had even kicked off. The "golden generation" against the "young lions"...Rooney versus Ronaldo...By any other name, Portugal against England would be a match to grace any international tournament's opening knock-out match.

There were also many things at stake: national pride, the reputation of the hosts, the future of many of the stars on show, and last but not least -- a semi-final place at Euro 2004.

So it was unsurprising that both teams would set off for the win and the spoils of that victory at a cracking pace in the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. To deafening noise, the two tems began to feel each other out with searching balls and charging runs. England nearly had the first opportunity before a minute was up but Rooney's through pass found Owen offside.

The all-important midfield battle got underway with the diminutive Deco clattering the more robust Gerrard in a challenge that would set the tone for more bruising encounters.

Owen proves critics wrong with early goal

England got off to a dream start just seconds later. After a long upfield punt from David James, a blind backwards header from Costinho let in Michael Owen who, with his back to goal, lofted a sweet volley over the perplexed Ricardo and into the net. Three minutes gone, England were in the lead and Owen had made good on his promise to prove his critics wrong.

It was end-to-end stuff. Figo began a raking run which ended in a speedy low cross into the England box. Christiano Ronaldo pounced first and diving defenders managed to block his shot before David James could react. Then it was Rooney on the run, dragging defenders with him to the left while Owen lurked ominously in the area.

Hosts swarm over England

But Portugal were fired up. Maniche let loose with a scorching shot from distance which James just tipped over with barely eight minutes on the clock. The resultant corner caused chaos in the England defense before being cleared. Then Figo skinned Sol Campbell wide on the right before feeding Gomes in the box, whose shot dribbled wide. All this with just ten minutes gone.

England looked happy to sit back and let the waves of attack come into their half while defending in numbers. It looked a dangerous game with Deco striding around unchallenged in the middle third and Figo and Ronaldo loitering with intent on the wings.

Lions build sweeping moves from flanks

Owen seemed rejuvenated and when not out searching for the ball out wide, he was drifting in behind the defense onto penetrating crosses. Another improvised volley from a similar position almost repeated his opening goal on 19 minutes but this time the ball ended up on the top of the net.

A minute later, a short corner from Beckham gave Gary Neville space to charge into the box and deliver a cross which Sol Campbell powered over the bar from close range. England were building chances patiently leaving Portugal to press on the counter-attack.

And press they did. Red shirts swarmed forward in wave after wave as Portugal searched for an equalizer. Gomes, Maniche and Ronaldo all had chances that troubled Ashley Cole and John Terry in England's defense but for all their invention, the final balls were wasted.

Crocked Rooney makes way

England had the chance to prove they were more than a one man team when Wayne Rooney was substituted for Darius Vassell after picking up an ankle injury on the half-hour mark during a tussle with Jorge Andrade.

Ashley Cole's running battle with Christiano Ronaldo boiled over with almost disasterous consequences two minutes later. The lightning fast winger had terrorized the left-back all ahlf and was scythed down after more magic footwork confused the Arsenal man. A foul on the edge of the area gave Luis Figo the chance to test James but the free-kick England feared flew harmlessly over the bar.

Back again at the other end, Owen had a shot on the turn which forced Ricardo into a fine save. The Liverpool striker seemed a different player to the one in the previous three matches, taking on England's goal scoring chances single-handedly.

Portugal spurn their many chances

Gerrard repaid Deco for his earlier challenge with a cutting tackle 30 meters out but the Brazilian-born playmaker couldn't keep his long range effort down after he had composed himself. As the first half wore on, Deco's shot epitomized the hosts offensive play as more and more of Portugal's efforts bordered on the speculative after being so threatening earlier in the game.

But their chance came with a minute to go in the first-half. Neville cut down Ronaldo as he weaved his way across the back line and the referee blew. One yellow card for Neville and a free-kick to Portugal from just 19 meters out. Luis Figo again took charge and again wasted the chance.

The half ended with spectators and players in need of a breather after an exciting, eventful first 45 minutes.

Second Half

The game got underway again with England painfully aware that a 1-0 lead can disappear in the heartbeat of a Frenchman. While Portugal had dominated the number of chances, the accuracy had so far eluded them -- but could England count on that wastefulness to continue?

Figo emphasized the point that it was a distinct possibility by placing another curling effort in the stands but Portugal were again the more offensive team out of the starting blocks. Ronaldo continued to harrass Cole, and allowed Deco to torment him a few times as the hosts searched to exploit England's defensive concerns. The England left-back looked in danger of finishing the game ahead of his team mates as Portugal's attackers frustrated and teased him.

Chances continue but so do wasted efforts

Portugal continued as they had left off by having the lion's share of the possession but little to show for it. The midfield trio of Deco, Ronaldo and Figo sent raking passes across the pitch to each other and danced through challenges but Gomes, the lone striker, was forced to drop deep for the killer pass which still didn't come.

While the hosts grew increasingly impatient with 30 minutes to play, England should have looked for the goal that would possibly end Portugal's challenge. Instead, the risky game of defensive possession looked to be coach Eriksson's choice of tactics. With almost constant pressure coming from the hosts and the law of averages suggesting at some point a real chance would come, England were tempting fate.

The English chants of "You're supposed to be at home" were more than a little unfair as the Portuguese were playing like devils in a bid to over turn the one goal deficit. They sounded even more hollow when substitute Simao lashed a shot past the England goal with 65 minutes played.

England defend in numbers

England last defended in such numbers against the French in the first game and everyone knows how that finished. With the whole team in and around the penalty area, a rapid counter-attack or mistake seemed to be the only things Owen and Vassell could hope for in terms of a scoring chance.

The Portuguese were throwing everything at England. Figo's shot skimmed off the turf and forced a fine save at the post from James after Owen and Gerrard had squandered good chances at the other end. Then Figo was replaced in what could have been his last international appearance for his country. His disgust was evident as he ignored the bench in favor of a lonely walk to the changing rooms alone.

Postiga scores to rock England again

Portugal continued to change personnel in search of attacking options. Rui Costa entered the fray as did Helder Postiga. England countered with more defensive changes bringing on Phil Neville and Owen Hargreaves. But the change benefited the hosts as Postiga rose to claim the chance that Portugal had been threatening all game. His 82 minute header was a gift as England's defenders slept around him.

Now the hosts looked for a dramatic winner as England were again stunned by a late equalizer. Almost 45 minutes of defending had left the English devoid of attacking ideas and with team changes geared to a siege, England looked lost with less than five minutes to play.

The dramatic winner was almost England's. Beckham's free-kick whipped in from the right was met by Owen on the six yard line but his header cannoned off the bar. John Terry and Sol Campbell rose with Ricardo and Campbell had the ball in the net. But referee Meier disallowed the goal, judging that Terry had impeded the keeper. It was an ominous flashback to the World Cup in France '98 when England thought they had beaten Argentina with a Sol Campbell header which was disallowed.

It was the last action of regulation time.

Extra Time (For rules see page 3)

Portugal kept in control from the restart and could have fallen behind soon after had it not been for Phil Neville who cleared an early effort off the line.

David Beckham had a chance go agonizingly wide at the other end with 101 minutes on the clock. The England captain's header dropped wide when he appeared to have more time than he realized. It picked England up after a period of frantic and desperate defending. The ball pinged around the Portugal area but no one could find the killer touch.

The first half of extra-time ended with no breakthrough. With 15 minutes to play before penalties beckoned, both teams needed to pick themselves up or face the potential agony of spot kicks.

The last period of extra-time could have been the opening five minutes. Both teams still oozed commitment with so much still at stake. England had to clear yet another shot off the line with just a minute played but then went behind as Rui Costa unleashed a vicious shot that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and in. Portugal were ahead with ten minutes to play.

But this remarkable game was far from over. With six minutes to go, Frank Lampard scored the goal that got England back into the game and the championships. The game was tied at 2-2 with penalties looking a distinct possibility.

Penalty pain awaited one team

With the referees whistle, Portugal and England prepared to face their Euro 2004 destinies from the penalty spot. England coach Sven Goran Eriksson told a press conference earlier in the day that his players had been practising. But with heartbreaks at this level and in this scenario a regular part of England's soccer history, would it be enough?

Beckham took the first -- and skied the penalty high into the stands. Deco for Portugal -- scored with ease in the bottom right hand corner. Then came Michael Owen -- who scored his second goal of the match and England's first penalty. Simao was next for the hosts and also scored, giving Portugal a 2-1 lead in the shoot-out.

Frank Lampard's second goal equalized and then Rui Costa stepped up -- and shot over. John Terry was the next to take the test -- and passed it with a high shot into the roof of the net. Ronaldo took the spot to loud boos from the England fans but held his nerve to score after a stuttering run up.

Sudden death claims England

A long delay before Owen Hargreaves' penalty looked ominous for the young Bayern Munich player but his shot was hard and true. The shoot-out then went to sudden death. Maniche scored and put the pressure on England. Ashley Cole was next -- and the scored penalty put England in the driving seat once more.

Helder Postiga's cheeky low chip sent James the wrong way and Vassell took the stand, with the match on his shoulders. Ricardo saved! His costly miss meant that David James had to do the same to keep England in the tournament. Opposite number Ricardo took the kick and sent England home.

Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel, Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Maniche, Costinha, Deco, Figo, Nuno Gomes, Ronaldo.
Subs: Quim, Moreira, Paulo Ferreira, Rui Jorge, Couto, Petit, Rui Costa, Simao, Beto, Tiago, Postiga.

England: James, Gary Neville, Terry, Campbell, Ashley Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes, Owen, Rooney.
Subs: Robinson, Walker, Bridge, Phil Neville, Carragher, Butt, Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Dyer, Heskey, Vassell.

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)

Extra Time Rules Explained

If a team scores a goal in the first period of extra time, play continues until the first period is complete and if one team leads, they win the match. If it is still level at the end of the first period, the second period will be played to its end and if scores are still level, there will be a penalty shootout.

In the penalty shoot-out, each team alternately takes five spot kicks. If, after this procedure, both sides have converted the same number of penalties, kicks continue to be taken in the same order, until one team has scored one goal more than the other from the same number of kicks.