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Portugal crowned EURO U17 Champions in Baku

23 May 2016 [13:31] - TODAY.AZ

/By Azernews/

By Amina Nazarli

Baku staged the 16-team 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship on May 5-21 that wrapped up with an exciting game between Portuguese and Spanish teams in the final.

Portugal won its second UEFA European Under-17 Championship title by defeating Spain, winning the penalty shootout after a hard-fought 1-1 draw. The last time the Portuguese team won this competition was in 2003.

The Spanish footballers started off strongly but it wasn’t long until the best team of tournament took control of the ball and started to create danger.

Nine had been converted when the Villarreal player clipped the outside of Diogo Costa's left-hand post, giving Portugal the trophy they last lifted 13 years ago, UEFA reports.

Both goals arrived in the space of six minutes either side of the half-hour mark, Diogo Dalot opening the scoring with his second in as many games, firing across Ignacio Peña after José Gomes had chested on Rúben Vinagre's left-wing cross. Cue the Cristiano Ronaldo-style celebration witnessed against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Spain's riposte was quick. Morlanes delivered from the right, defender Juan Brandariz nodded the ball on and Brahim Díaz got above his marker to direct goal wards a header that Dalot could not prevent from crossing the line.

With full time imminent, Santi Denia sent on Adrian for his first action of the finals.

Unlike Tim Krul in the Netherlands' 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-final shoot-out against Costa Rica, however, the Espanyol keeper did not turn out to be the hero.

Costa's run of not conceding a goal in this season's edition ended at 656 minutes when Díaz struck. Until then, the Porto shot-stopper had not picked the ball out of the net for Portugal in this competition since Trevoh Chalobah put England ahead in a qualifying round fixture on October 4.

Portugal coach Hélio Sousa, following the victory over Spain, described his players as "incredible", saying "they produced some almost perfect games" in Azerbaijan.

“It was a very even match with both sides creating good opportunities. We were quite strong towards the end of the game. Penalties are not a matter of luck; they're a matter of competence. We were strong throughout the tournament, although I'd like to congratulate Spain because they contributed to a great game and they're a great team,” the Portugal coach said.

Spanish captain Manu Morlanes spoke of the "immense pressure" he felt as he stepped up to take the tenth penalty, while Santi Denia reflected on a "good two weeks" despite defeat in the final.

“We practiced penalties with the players, but training and games are two different things. I told them I'm proud of them. It's not so important to win every time because it's impossible to do that,” the Spanish coach said.

While Portugal was crowned U17 EURO champions, forward José Gomes finished as the top scorer at the Championship. His seven goals in Baku also made him the competition's all-time leading marksman.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/sports/150990.html

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