Anthony Gordon - celebrating with Morgan Gibbs-White - scored his second goal of the tournamentAnthony Gordon's first-half finish sealed England a place in the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals as they defeated Portugal in Georgia.
The Newcastle forward smashed home from inside the area from a Morgan Gibbs-White cutback after good work from Chelsea's Noni Madueke.
Portugal hit the bar through Henrique Araujo in the second half.
But Lee Carsley's side, yet to concede a goal in this tournament, held out and will face Israel on Wednesday.
They needed to show defensive resilience to win in Kutaisi, as Portugal had them under pressure for long periods after the break.
Victory secured a place in the final four of the competition for the first time since 2017, and kept alive hops of lifting a trophy they last won in 1984.
Having already beaten Israel 2-0 in the group stage, England will certainly feel they have a strong chance to reach next Saturday's final.
Carsley reverted to the team who started England's opening match of the tournament, a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic on 22 June.
They could have been in front in the fourth minute, when Curtis Jones shot wide from the edge of the box after Madueke, Gibbs-White and Anthony Gordon had combined to create the opening.
Then Gordon was fed through by Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey's pass, but his first-time shot from a tight angle was saved by Celton Biai.
Portugal came close through Wolves forward Pedro Neto, after a cross into the box was not fully cleared by James Garner, but his low shot was saved by James Trafford in the England goal.
Tiago Dantas looked certain to score just before half-time but captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis made a vital block.
Araujo's header was England's biggest second-half scare, but despite having plenty of pressure, Portugal could not create a clear enough chance to find a way through.
Line-ups
England U21
Formation 4-4-2
1Trafford
14Garner5Harwood-Bellis4Colwill2Aarons
23Madueke21Gomes17Jones8J Ramsey
11Gordon7Gibbs-White
1TraffordBooked at 85mins14Garner5Harwood-Bellis4Colwill2AaronsBooked at 51minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 74'minutesBooked at 79mins23MaduekeSubstituted forPalmerat 74'minutes21GomesSubstituted forSkippat 80'minutes17Jones8J RamseySubstituted forSmith Roweat 67'minutes11Gordon7Gibbs-WhiteSubstitutes
3Thomas6Skipp9Archer10Smith Rowe12Branthwaite13Griffiths15Cresswell16Johnson18Doyle20Palmer22RushworthPortugal U21
Formation 4-3-3
1Ansumane Biai
13Natário Ferreira16Penetra Correia3Fonseca Amaro5Tavares
17Gonçalves Neves6Oliveira Dantas4de Almeida Costa
11Fernandes da Conceição20Fábio Silva7Neto
1Ansumane Biai13Natário FerreiraBooked at 83mins16Penetra Correia3Fonseca Amaro5Tavares17Gonçalves Neves6Oliveira Dantas4de Almeida CostaSubstituted forGonçalves Bernardoat 45'minutes11Fernandes da ConceiçãoSubstituted forda Silva Moreiraat 87'minutes20Fábio SilvaSubstituted forAraújoat 65'minutes7NetoSubstituted forCarvalho Oliveiraat 90'minutesSubstitutes
2Morais Cardoso Vital8Gonçalves Bernardo9Araújo10de Pinho Sousa12Jumpe Soares14Lemos Araújo15da Cruz Lelo18Ribeiro Almeida19Carvalho Oliveira21Cardoso Sousa22Meira Meixedo23da Silva MoreiraLive Text
Match ends, England U21 1, Portugal U21 0.
Second Half ends, England U21 1, Portugal U21 0.
Attempt missed. Nuno Tavares (Portugal U21) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt missed. Emile Smith Rowe (England U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Foul by André Amaro (Portugal U21).
Curtis Jones (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Portugal U21. Vítinha replaces Pedro Neto.
Attempt missed. Pedro Neto (Portugal U21) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Attempt blocked. Pedro Neto (Portugal U21) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tiago Dantas.
Henrique Araújo (Portugal U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Levi Colwill (England U21).
Attempt saved. Anthony Gordon (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Emile Smith Rowe.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Oliver Skipp (England U21).
Substitution, Portugal U21. Diego Moreira replaces Francisco Conceição.
Foul by Zé Carlos (Portugal U21).
Oliver Skipp (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
James Trafford (England U21) is shown the yellow card.
Zé Carlos (Portugal U21) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Zé Carlos (Portugal U21).
