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Thorgan Hazard (second from right) can be celebrated for his opening goal
Photo: Cezaro De Luca / dpa
Belgium are in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship for the second time in a row.
Against the reigning European champions Portugal, the Belgians won 1-0 (1-0).
Thorgan Hazard scored the winning goal just before the break (42nd minute).
Belgium will face Italy in the quarter-finals next Friday.
In the nominally top-class round of 16 of this tournament, both teams wanted ball control and defensive stability right from the start.
Accordingly, the audience in Seville initially only saw a few playful highlights.
A free kick by Cristiano Ronaldo from almost 25 meters caused serious goal danger for the first time.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois let the hard-shot ball bounce off the side (25th).
When most were expecting a goalless first half, BVB professional Hazard came to the ball just 20 meters from the goal, took two or three more steps and then overcame Rui Patrício with a strong shot, which was in the air again Got right twist.
Shortly after the restart, the Belgians playmaker Kevin De Bruyne had to be replaced with an injury (48th).
Less than ten minutes later, the Portuguese got their best chance to date.
After preliminary work by Ronaldo, Diogo Jota missed the equalizer from ten meters.
On the other side, Romelu Lukaku put a shot from the edge of the penalty area just over the gate (63rd).
After tough fouls on both sides, things got emotional on the pitch in the last quarter of an hour.
Portugal's final offensive came late, but it came.
After a corner, Rúben Dias headed too centrally on goal from short distance (82nd), then Raphaël Guerreiro hit the post from far away (83rd).
Shortly before the end, Courtois saved again against André Silva (88).
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