Summary Sweden beat Portugal 4-3 on penalties to win their first European Under-21 title on Tuesday.
PRAGUE (AFP) - Goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren saved two penalties in a shoot-out to lead Sweden to victory over Portugal and their first European Under-21 title in Prague on Tuesday.
The AIK Stockholm stopper sent a vociferous yellow-clad crowd at Prague s Eden stadium into raptures when he saved attempts by Ricardo Esgaio and William Carvalho for a 4-3 win in the shoot-out following a goalless draw after extra time.
His Portuguese counterpart Jose Sa, who let in a single goal in the entire tournament, only managed one save in the shoot-out.
Carlgren was elated at his side s success. "It s insane, completely insane to win a Euro championship. We re writing Swedish history," he told uefa.com.
"It was a fantastic match from beginning to end. We knew they d have a lot of the ball, but we played one hell of a match."
Of William Carvalho s decisive spot kick, he added: "I had a feeling he d go for that side, I went the right way and saved the penalty."
Portugal had swept past Germany 5-0 in the semi-final, but Sweden s defence proved a harder nut to crack.
Playing their first under-21 final since 1994, Portugal created more scoring chances and went on an attacking spree early in the game but Pereira Ricardo missed Carlgren s right post narrowly with a low left-foot shot after two minutes.
Five minutes later, Sergio Oliveira hit the Swedish crossbar from a free kick.
Sweden, who last played an under-21 final in 1992, ventured forward on 12 minutes when Isaac Kiese Thelin headed into Sa s hands.
Sweden striker John Guidetti, who spent last season at Celtic, half-volleyed just over the bar on 52 minutes in the best scoring chance of the game.
Oliveira s low shot missed narrowly seconds later, while Carlgren stopped substitute Toze s low shot from 25 metres and another substitute, Iuri Medeiros, missed the target.
Joao Mario sent his shot over the bar five minutes from time and Guidetti s close-range shot was denied by Sa, who also intercepted a pass aimed by Guidetti at Kiese Thelin in front of goal.
Sweden put Portugal under pressure in extra time -- Abdul Rahman Khalili s shot missed the target narrowly with Sa beaten his next attempt went far wide.
