Euro 2016 semi-final: Portugal vs Wales - As it happened...

In what was billed as a shootout between Cristiano Ronaldo and his Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale, it was the Portugal captain who prevailed.

New Delhi: Cristiano Ronaldo and his men defeated Wales 2-0 to book their berth for the finals of Euro 2016.

(SCORE Portugal 2 - 0 Wales)

---

90+3' It's all over for Wales. Bale and the rest of the Wales players are disappointed as Portuguese players break into a massive celebration.

90+2' Ronaldo took another free kick, it hit the Welsh defenders.

90' 3 minutes of added time.

88' Gareth Bale gets a yellow card.

86' Ricardo Quaresma replaces Nani.

86' Ronaldo misses a chance to score another goal. He was well tackled by the Welsh goalkeeper.

83' Joao Mario made a foul for Portugal. Bale took the free kick but his shot was defended.

80' Gareth Bale came up with a well-directed left-footed shot, Rui Patricio dived to his right to deny Wales their opening goal. Good effort that from both the sides!

78' Wayne Hennessey came up with a good save to deny Portugal another goal.

78' Joao Mario takes a corner for Portugal but that is well cleared.

77' Gareth Bale took a shot from 30 metres away but hit it straight into the goalkeeper's hands.

74' Portugal replace Renato Sanches with Andre Gomes.

72' Cristiano Ronaldo too gets a Yellow card for his tackle. He isn't happy with that decision.

71' Bruno Alves gets a Yellow card for Portugal.

70' Joao Mario took a corner for Portugal. No damage done.

67' Sam Vokes misses a huge opportunity for Wales. He attempted a header which sailed over the bar.

66' Jonathan Williams replaces James Collins for Wales.

66' Chance missed by Portugal! All Joao Mario needed to do was put the ball in the post after the Welsh goalkeeper failed to collect a previous shot by Nani.

65' Bale took a kick for Wales, but the goal kepeer did well to retrieve that.

63' Another change for Wales, Hal Robson-Kanu is replaced by Simon Church.

63' Ronaldo took the kick and it just sailed over the bar. That was very very close and the Welsh players had their hearts in their mouths.

62'  James Chester has been gievn a yellow card. Portugal get a free kick.

58' Sam Vokes replaces Joe Ledley for Wales.

57'  Neil Taylor has been penalised by the referee for a foul.

57' After those two quick goals, Portugal are now frustrating their opponent by keeping the possession with short passes.

54' GOAL! This time Nani scored off a wonderful pass from Ronaldo. Ronaldo sent a cross in Wales penalty box and Nani deflected it into the goal! Wales are now trailing 0-2!

51' GOAL! Ronaldo scores! Raphael Guerreiro sent a well-directed cross into the penalty area and Ronaldo timed his jump to perfection to score his third goal of the tournament!

49' Joe Allen commits a foul with a bad tackle.

46' The second half begins. The fans would be expecting to see some quality play from both the teams.

Compared to Ronaldo, Bale has been the more busy of the two players. Wales defenders have done well to keep Ronaldo quiet so far, despite some close chances.

45' HALF-TIME. No goals scored yet.

44' Just before half-time, Ronaldo got another chance as he received a pass right inside the box but his header went over the bar.

42' Ronaldo took a chance near the penalty area, went wayward and high over the box.

38' Portugal made another positive move but it bore no fruit. 

33' Adrien Silva tries to score a goal from 22 metres, goes wayward!

31' Both the teams desperately searching for the first goal.

29' Cedric takes a chance, far from the goal post but it goes sailing over the bar.

26' Ledley took the corner kick, no damage done.

25' Andy King produced a good pass but it was cleared by Portugal. Corner for Wales.

23' Bale is on fire. Another counter attack but hits right into the hands of the goalkeeper.

22' Another attacking move from Bale. He is taking the Portuguese fielders by surprise with his pace. He produced a pass right inside Portugal's penalty area but was well collected by the goalkeeper.

19' Chance! Bale's left-footed shot flied off-target! Joe Ledley took the corner for Wales and Portugal would have been gutted if Bale scored that one.

18' Bale was looking to make an attacking move, was well tackled and no damage done.

18' After Portugal, Wales are currently dealing in short passes.

16' Portugal have missed out on a brilliant opportunity as Joao Mario's pass went off target.

15' Both the teams have made some good moves so far.

13' Cedric's right-footed shot landed near Wales' box but there was no Portugal player to collect that. 

12' Bale was looking to make a move but could not find any of his team mates in position.

10' Portugal created a move, was well defended by Collins, who looked like pushing Ronaldo. The referee thought otherwise.

8' Joe Allen has been given a yellow card.

5' Both the teams have made some decent moves so far.

3' Ronaldo made a move, but was well defended by Williams. Excellent tackle.

2' Foul by Joe Allen in the second minute of the game. 

1' The match is off!

The national anthems are done.

Portugal have been dealt a huge blow as he has been ruled out of the crucial match due to injury.

Here are the playing XIs of both the teams:

Wales playing XI: Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, James Chester, Collins, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Andy King, Joe Ledley, Joe Allen, Robson-Kanu, Gareth Bale

Portugal playing XI: Rui Patrício, Cedric, José Fonte, Bruno Alves, Raphael Guerreiro, Danilo, Joao Mario, Adrien Silva, Renato Sanches, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo

---

No matter how much they deny, the match will revolve around Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale – two brilliant strikers who are team-mates at Real Madrid.

Just like Lionel Messi, there is enormous pressure on Ronaldo, to win a major trophy for his country.

For Wales, led by 26-year-old Bale, it will be their biggest game ever since for the first time they have reached the last four of a major tournament.

Coaches Chris Coleman of Wales and Fernando Santos of Portugal have sought to avoid questions about their star players.

"We are not playing for the Ballon d`Or, we are playing to be in the final. That is more important for the team," said Santos ahead of the final.

Coleman said Ronaldo`s brilliant football mind is easy for all to see.

"You see that on the pitch, how motivated he is for himself to score and win. I think ever since he was young at Man United he had that desire to train harder than everyone to get better," said the Wales coach.

Coleman will be without Arsenal`s Aaron Ramsey, who is suspended for Wednesday`s game.

The winner of today's game, which starts at 1900 GMT, will play hosts France or world champions Germany in Sunday`s final in Paris.