Portugal’s under-23 team proved that last year’s European Championship loss to Spain was just a bump in the road. They’ve now claimed the top spot in the category, edging out their Spanish counterparts in a nail-biting final that went all the way to penalty shootouts after a 4-4 draw.
A Thrilling Match
The final got off to a blistering start, with Lucas Honório scoring within the first five minutes. He beat the Spanish defense with a daring individual effort, and despite Oriol Codony’s initial save, Honório capitalized on the rebound to put Portugal ahead.
The Spanish team, playing on home soil, responded with a goal of their own just two minutes later. Jacobo Copa scored directly from a free kick after Viti was given a blue card, leveling the score.
A Back-and-Forth Battle
The match remained a seesaw battle, with both teams creating chances but unable to gain a clear upper hand. Martim Costa hit the post for Portugal, but it was Spain who scored next. Carles Domènech’s long-range shot caught the Portuguese goalkeeper off guard, giving Spain the lead.
Portugal quickly regained their footing, though. A Burguillos foul on Martim Costa inside the box led to a penalty, which Lucas Honório converted to level the score once more at 2-2.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Spain took the lead again, with Jacobo Copa scoring his second goal from a rebound after a free kick. However, Portugal persisted, and Tomás Santos’ counter-attacking play set up Lucas Honório’s third goal, restoring parity at 3-3.
Drama in the Extra Time
With the score still tied at the end of regular time, the match went into extra time. Both teams had opportunities to win it, but neither could capitalize. Lucas Honório and Jacobo Copa both missed free kicks, keeping the score at 3-3.
The tension was palpable as the match wore on. Portugal finally took the lead in extra time when Lucas Honório scored his fourth goal with a clever shot that slipped past Codony. However, Spain equalized just 30 seconds later when Nil Cervera converted a penalty, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout Drama
In the end, Portugal emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, securing their European Championship title. A disputed decision by the referees, who failed to award a goal to Portugal, couldn’t detract from the team’s achievement. As the Portuguese team celebrated, their fans rejoiced on social media, with the Federação de Patinagem de Portugal (FPP) tweeting their congratulations.
- Portugal won the European under-23 Championship.
- The final against Spain went to penalty shootouts after a 4-4 draw.
- Lucas Honório scored four goals, including the winner in extra time.