DONETSK, Ukraine -- Still not pretty to watch, still just as effective. Spain failed to dazzle yet again at the European Championship, but still advanced to its third straight major championship final by beating Portugal 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday following a 0-0 draw after extra time. "Were playing better in defence than what the characteristics of our players would suggest," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "Thats what earns victories." After earning plaudits for the eye-catching one-touch passing that helped Spain win titles at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, this years team is struggling to create chances. Against Portugal, the defending champions managed only one shot on target in regulation time. It didnt matter, though, because the Spanish still came through when it mattered. Cesc Fabregas, who came on as a substitute in the second half of regulation time, scored the deciding penalty after Bruno Alves had hit the crossbar for Portugal moments earlier. "I played poorly, but the team worked really hard," Fabregas said. "I had this intuition that we could advance if we went to penalties and thats what we did." Spain will next face either Germany or Italy on Sunday in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv. Cristiano Ronaldo had several chances for Portugal, but he sent three shots well over the bar as his team held its own for the entire match. The Real Madrid star, who came alive with three goals in his last two matches at Euro 2012, did not take a penalty in the shootout. He had been slated to take the fifth one, but he never got that far. "Our players trained and were prepared for a situation like this," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "We didnt have much luck." After an often dour opening 90 minutes in which the Spanish failed to impress, the match livened up in the 30 minutes of extra time. Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta forced Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio into a superb reflex save in the 103rd minute. Iniesta ghosted into the penalty area, then held his head in disbelief as Rui Patricio reacted brilliantly to get a strong hand to his shot after Jordi Alba cut the ball back toward the penalty spot. Rui Patricio made another fine save to deny substitute Jesus Navas in the 111th. "Both teams were stronger in defence in the first 90 minutes, but that balance was broken in extra time," Del Bosque said. Tempers frayed at times, with Portugal centre half Pepe getting a yellow card for a challenge on Xabi Alonso as they went for a high ball. Ronaldo also received some heavy challenges late on. In the shootout, Xabi had the first attempt saved by Rui Patricio. But Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas then saved Joao Moutinhos shot. Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos then all scored for Spain, while Pepe and Nani scored for Portugal. "The first one wasnt so lucky, and then we scored the rest of them," Casillas said. "Yes, we really were lucky. Everything is about luck sometimes." Del Bosque ditched his unorthodox 4-6-0 formation for Wednesdays match and opted for a traditional striker -- but not the one many expected. Instead of Fernando Torres, it was Alvaro Negredo that got the start up front. But 10 minutes into the second half, Del Bosque took him off and replaced him with Fabregas. Although Negredo worked hard, his lack of movement made him easy to mark. Spain improved as Fabregas made clever runs to stretch the defence and the defending champions dominated most of extra time with the addition of Pedro Rodriguez for midfielder Xavi Hernandez late in the match. "I think we were better in the first 90 minutes. Then in extra time we were less efficient," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "When we couldnt take advantage of our opportunities, Spain got stronger." Rui Patricio was a big help in goal for Portugal, but much more was expected from Ronaldo. The winger had a chance, albeit a difficult one, to win the game in the 90th minute when Portugal poured forward after clearing a free kick. But Raul Meireles pass was fractionally behind Ronaldo and, with momentum lost, he had to check his run and sent his shot high and wide. Ronaldo briefly threatened early in the first half, whipping over a cross from the left wing that Casillas grabbed before Nani could head it in. He also sent a free kick into the wall after too easily tumbling under a challenge. Working as a unit, Portugal started to gain the upper hand midway through the first half. Moutinho flicked the ball into the path of Ronaldo, whose wild shot flew over. "Everyone helped to control Ronaldo," Del Bosque said. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Kendrick-Perkins-Jersey/]h... . Vizquel was caught by Alex Avilas strong throw for the final out Wednesday night, and the Blue Jays lost 3-2 to the Detroit Tigers. Toronto has scored three or fewer runs in six straight games. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Caron-Butler-Jersey/]http:... . Sundays draw paired United, the current leader of the Premier League, with West Ham; while Chelsea, the defending champion, is pitted against Southampton. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/]http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.... . Pedro Alvarez provided the power. The reeling Pittsburgh Pirates eagerly accepted both. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Serge-Ibaka-Jersey/]http:/... . Leipheimer was Armstrongs teammate for five years during stints with the U.S. Postal Service, Astana and RadioShack teams before joining Quick Step this season. The team said in a statement Tuesday that Leipheimers contract was terminated in "light of the disclosures. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Steven-Adams-Jersey/]http:... . Since being signed on Dec. 16, the 6-foot-9 McGuire has appeared in nine games. Hes averaged 2.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and an assist in 16 minutes per game. PHILADELPHIA -- No matter how many shots the Oklahoma City Thunder missed, they remained confident about the next one. Kevin Durant scored 37 points, Russell Westbrook had 30 and the Thunder beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-109 in overtime Saturday night. Serge Ibaka added 18 points for the defending Western Conference champions, whove won nine of 11 to go to 10-4. The Thunder missed their last seven shots in regulation, but got 3-pointers from four different players in OT. "We werent making shots at the end, but I like the fact guys continued to stick with each other and trust each other," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "Trust isnt a word we throw around loosely. Youre not always going to make shots, but if a guy is open, you have to trust hell make the next one." Thad Young had a season-high 29 points and career-high 15 rebounds, and Evan Turner scored 26 points for Philadelphia, which has lost two in a row after winning three straight. Trailing most of the game, the Sixers tied it at 94 on a dunk by Young off an underneath pass by Turner with 5:01 left. The Thunder regained the lead on Westbrooks driving layup and Durants 10-footer made it 98-94. A pair of free throws by Lavoy Allen cut it to 98-96. The teams combined for eight misses and three turnovers until Youngs layup tied it at 98 with 1:36 to go. Each team missed its next two shots and Turner deflected away an inbound pass with 3 seconds left to send it to overtime. Thats when the Thunder found their shooting touch from beyond the arc. "We trust each other. We live and die with those shots. Make the right play and they came up big for us," Durant said. "Its part of the game. Youve got to have trust if you want to be a good team. It doesnt matter what. These guys are in the NBA for a reason. They can play. I trust them 100 per cent to go make that shot. I think its going in every time." Durant scored Oklahoma Citys first five points on two free throws and a 3-pointer. Kevin Martin nailed a 3 to extend the lead to 106-100. Westbrooks 3 made it 109-102. Thabo Sefolosha then sent the fans scattering for the exits with another 3 for a 112-104 lead with undeer a minute left.dddddddddddd "I left my offence in Oklahoma City," said Martin, who was 3 for 16 against Boston and Philadelphia in consecutive games. "We all know what people are doing night in and night out. Thats when the trust comes." The Sixers learned before the game that All-Star centre Andrew Bynum is now out indefinitely. General manager Tony DiLeo said Bynum has "bilateral bone bruises and a weakened cartilage state" in his knees. Bynums target date for returning to basketball activities has been pushed back four times, so the team has to move on without him at least for the immediate future. "We got the ball out of Kevin Durants hands a couple of times at the end of (regulation), Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "We had a couple of shots to win the game and ours didnt go. We had some guys play great, great games, fought, competed, played great. Evan, Thad were terrific. Jrue (Holiday) I thought was very aggressive in the first half." The Thunder led nearly the entire first half, going ahead by 10 on a few occasions. But after Ibaka hit a long jumper to make it 42-32, the Sixers outscored Oklahoma City 17-8 to get within a point at halftime. Jason Richardson started the run with a 3-pointer and made two more during the stretch. Durant threw down a thunderous dunk to give Oklahoma City an 85-79 lead after three quarters. Holiday had 10 of his 13 assists in the first half for Philadelphia. "They made big shots down the stretch in overtime," Young said "When you give guys looks, a lot of open looks, they eventually start lining the ball up and knocking down shots and thats what they did." Notes: Richardson left with a sprained ankle. ... The Thunder are 19-3 after a loss since the start of last season, including 4-0 this year. ... Julius "Dr. J" Erving presented the ball for the opening tip-off. Erving led the Sixers to their last NBA title in 1983. ... Holidays 10 assists were a first-half record at the Wells Fargo Center, which opened in 1996. ... The Thunder are 5-0 in the second game of back-to-backs. ... None of Philadelphias games has been decided by fewer than six points. ' ' '