Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd L) of Portugal shoots the ball during the quarterfinal match between the Czech Republic and Portugal at the Euro 2012 football championships in Warsaw, Poland, June 21, 2012. Portugal won 1-0. [Xinhua/Ma Ning]

The Czech Republic failed to turn back the clock and repeat their 1996 glory on Thursday night when Cristiano Ronaldo headed Portugal to a convincing 1-0 quarterfinal victory at the European Championship.

Ronaldo's powerful header rewrote the duo's rivalry at the same stage of the tournament 16 years ago when an less unknown Czech side beat a star-studded Portuguese squad 1-0.

"We showed great quality in the match. We were efficient in attack and defence. We always created more chances than the opponent. They dominated the first 20 minutes, but we controlled the second half and simply played much better," said Portugal's head Coach Paulo Bento.

With the third victory in their fifth successive Euro quarterfinal, Portugal will take on either Spain or France in the semifinals in Donetsk, Ukraine on June 27.

"There are a lot of work before semifinals. We should try best to reach the pitch in the best condition. I was never worried about the players with their quality. Our aim is to beat Spain or France," added by Bento.

The Czechs started solid and dynamic in the first 20 minutes, highlighted by the left-wing attack from Vaclav Pilar and the linking contribution from the playmaker Vladimir Darida.

Ronaldo tested the keeper Petr Cech's nerves in the 33rd minute when a corner was not cleared far away by the defenders and the Portugal's skipper tried an brilliant overhead volley which just flied past the post.

Portugal nearly broke the deadlock just before the half-time whistle when Ronaldo showed adapt footwork to control Raul Meireles' pass and struck low from the right area, only seeing the ball hit the post.

Ronald's effort was rejected by the post again five minutes into the second half when the forward's 23-meter freekick swerved over the wall and Cech's touch but hit the outside of the right post, which was Portugal's sixth time hit to the woodwork in this tournament, creating a Euro record.

With 11 minutes left, Ronaldo finally made the breakthrough. The Real Madrid winger made an in-time run onto Joao Moutinho's right-flank pass to head into the dead corner in front a desperate Cech.

"He (Ronald) was a great player. He penetrated the defence a lot. It's very hard to defend him. He is a man who can decides the match," said Michal Bilek, the head coach of Czech.

Cech, the Chelsea's talisman for the club's first Champions League Cup in May, proved that he was no doubt one of the best keepers in the world with his many sharp saves to stop a bunch of clear chances from Portugal.

"We fought very hard against a opponent better than us. We were losing energy in the second half when we didn't hold onto the ball that mattered.

"But it also was a great success for us to reach quarterfinals," added by Bilek, whose side upset the co-host Poland in Group A to qualify for the last eight.

The duo met twice before the clash, both in the European Championships. The Czechs won their quarterfinal 16 years ago thanks to a Karel Poborsky's goal while Portugal were 3-1 winners in group stage in 2008.

Though Portugal were a much well-known side, the Czech squad were also supported a lot by both their fans and Polish fans in the National Stadium.

"We are going home. The Polish people created fantastic atmosphere for us. Thanks a lot for the hospitality of the host country," said Bilek. 

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