A thumping second half performance saw Portugal through to the finals of the Euro 2016 after beating Wales 2-0 in Lyon.

Christiano Ronaldo opened scoring with a fabulous header before setting up Nani whose sliding touch ended the fairy tale run of the Welsh side.

It would have been embarrassing for Wales, if the Portuguese had been ruthless but Ronaldo, Nani and Guerreiro had begging chances to put away but they were content with the 2-0 victory, their first in regulation time.

A match of two stars it was-Ronaldo, Gareth Bale- but in the end it was the former who led by example and inched closer to achieving what the Luis Figo led golden generation in Portugal could not achieve- win a major tournament.

Bale will not be disappointed; his long range shots were always going to be a problem for the Portuguese and they did but the world's expensive player had nothing to show for his effort.

It summed up a night of frustration for the Welsh side whose lethal performances sent England, Belgium and others all packing home early.

It was the best team performance yet for the Portuguese side in the tournament but they have an even bigger test in the final against either France or Germany.

The game was fluid and friendly but with little chances especially in the first half. Both Bale and Ronaldo fell deep into midfield to receive service after they were eclipsed by their markers.

But the story changed in the second half. Barely five minutes into it, Ronaldo, from nothing, leapt over his marker and capped it with a stupendous header to set the two sides apart before Nani slid in to connect a Christiano Ronaldo shot from the edge of the post.

Wales lifted up their game with Gareth Bale firing from all cylinders but his shots were dealt with quite well by the Portuguese goal keeper.

The Welsh side will be disappointed on the night but will savour what has been a great tournament.

Portugal will look forward to their first European trophy and who best will relish it more than Christiano Ronaldo?