Ricardo Quaresma proved to be the hero, scoring the winning spot-kick in the shootout after Jakub Blaszczykowski's attempt was saved by Rui Patricio.

A tense quarter-final had finished 1-1 after extra-time with Portuguese teenager Renato Sanches cancelling out Robert Lewandowski’s second-minute opener.

Victory for Portugal sets up a semi-final clash with either Wales or Belgium, due to face each other at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille tomorrow.

Poland made the perfect start in Marseille as Lewandowski scored the second-fastest goal in European Championship history - beaten only by Dmitri Kirichenko's 65-second strike for Russia against Greece in 2004 - to put his country ahead with just one minute and 40 seconds on the clock. 

After Cedric Soares had allowed a cross-field ball to evade him, Kamil Grosicki's low cross from the left found the Bayern Munich striker who guided the ball home from near the penalty spot to score what was his only goal of the tournament.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating night and was left furious on the half-hour mark when he was not awarded a penalty after a blatant push from Michal Pazdan.

Anger turned to joy though three minutes later as Bayern Munich’s new signing Sanches equalised for Portugal with a first goal for his country.

The 18-year-old, making his first start of the tournament, drove at the Poland defence before playing a one-two with Nani and firing a left-footed shot into the net via a deflection off Grzegorz Krychowiak.

Ronaldo’s personal frustration continued after half-time with the Real Madrid star producing air shots from Nani's low cross inside the six-yard box and substitute João Moutinho’s chipped ball over the defence  

With few chances created in extra-time, the tie laboured to a penalty shootout.

Neither goalkeeper came close to saving the first three penalties from either side with Ronaldo, Sanches and Moutinho all scoring for Portugal, and Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik and Kamil Glik following suit for Poland.

However, after Nani had put Portugal 4-3 ahead, Patricio dived to his left to palm away Blaszczykowski's effort.

Lukasz Fabianski got his fingertips to Quaresma's decisive spot-kick but could not prevent it finding the roof of the net.

Portugal have reached the semi-finals without winning a game in normal time following three draws in Group F and an extra-time win over Croatia in the last-16.

No side has ever got this far in a European Championship without winning a match inside 90 minutes.