Portugal vs. Spain Highlights: Momentum-Changing Moments of Euro 2012 Semifinal

With a little love from the frame and a peculiar fault in Portugal's penalty-taking strategy, Spain advanced to the final at Euro 2012.

The game was scoreless after 120 minutes, making it the second match of the tournament to be decided by penalty kicks. The defending champions eventually prevailed, dispatching the scrappy Portuguese squad 0-0 (4-2). 

Here were the most important moments of the match.

Portugal's 90th-Minute Mishap

Portugal had an opportunity to win this game before the entire penalty fiasco, but Ronaldo couldn't quite deliver.

In the last minute of normal time, the Portuguese counterattack exploded up the field. With a 3-2 advantage on the break, Raul Meireles fed the ball to Ronaldo on the left wing. Unfortunately, Meireles played it slightly behind Ronaldo, forcing him to break stride and drag the ball forward into shooting position.

This slight delay allowed the Spanish defense to close in and forced Ronaldo to rush the shot, which he fired just over the crossbar. It was his best look at the net all game, and if Meireles would have hit him in stride, I believe Portugal would have moved on.

Sergio Ramos' Cheeky Penalty

Taking a page out of Andrea Pirlo's book, Ramos chipped his penalty kick straight down the middle, fooling keeper Rui Patricio and igniting his teammates' confidence.

It was a gutsy move from Ramos and it paid off. The Portuguese shanked their next PK, Cesc Fabregas sank his and the Spaniards advanced.

The Frame Favors Spain

With the game on the line, Bruno Alves and Fabregas both drilled the post. Unfortunately for Portugal, the Spaniards received all the luck.

Alves' shot careened off the underside of the crossbar and sailed out into the field, while Fabregas' effort ricocheted off the inside the left post and slid into the back of the net. It was a thrilling conclusion and yet another reminder that football is a game of inches. 

Of course, the debacle could have been avoided if Ronaldo had taken the fourth penalty rather than Alves. However, Portugal elected to save Europe's best player for the final slot, and his opportunity never came.