15 October 2008

Portugal v Albania

Live match commentary


Welcome to live match commentary of Portugal’s World Cup qualification match against Albania.

Follow all the action minute by minute from the Axa Stadium in Braga as Portugal attempt to catch Denmark at the top of Group 1. Kick-off at 8.45 pm.


This page automatically updates every 90 seconds


Text Commentary: Portugal 0-0 Albania
  • 94::

    Final whistle goes.

    Portugal stumble to an embarrassing draw against Albania who played over half the match with ten men. World Cup qualification is going to be an almighy struggle from here on. Portugal have earned just five points from their first four matches. 

    Carlos Queiroz is sure to face a barrage of criticism after a pallid performance from his charges. Hugo Almeida hit the post, Nani missed a glaring chance, but in truth Portugal always struggled to open up a well-organised Albania defence.

  • 93:: Desperate attacking from Portugal but no end product. Quaresma goes on another individual run that comes to nothing.
  • 91:: Bruno Alves crosses for Hugo Almeida who fails to make proper contact on his header.
  • 90:: Four minutes of stoppage time. Portugal have 4 minutes to score and possibly save their World Cup qualification chances.
  • 88:: Ronaldo runs towards the box and hits a hard low shot that skims just wide of the post.
  • 87::

    Hugo Almeida spurns another chance, screwing wide from just six metres out. 

  • 86:: Incredible miss by Portugal! Nuno Gomes plays a brilliant back-heel to Nani who, one-on-one against Beqaj, is thwarted by the goalkeeper. 
  • 84:: Excellent run and cross by Quaresma but Almeida arrives a second too late.
  • 82:: Desperate attacking from Portugal. Nani does well to get in a cross but the resolute Albanian defence again clear the danger.
  • 80:: Ten minutes to go. Ronaldo takes his eye off the ball and concedes possession. The crowd start jeering and Ronaldo reacts furiously, waving his arms at the stands and asking for support. This is getting ugly.
  • 77:: Albania make a substitution with Berisha coming on and immediately creating danger. The striker battles past three defenders and hits a shot over the bar.
  • 75:: Queiroz takes off Miguel and Nuno Gomes enters the fray. Portugal have 15 minutes to break the deadlock.
  • 73:: Quaresma at last does something right, waltzing past his marker to create space and send in a dangerous cross which is cleared with difficulty for a corner.
  • 70:: Nuno Gomes warms up on the sidelines. It's starting to look desperate for Portugal. A draw here would be a huge setback for World Cup qualification.
  • 67:: Portugal hit the post!! Miguel swings in a peach of the cross and Almeida sends an athletic header against the inside of the post with Beqaj beaten. 
  • 66:: Quaresma exasperates the crowd with another attempt to resolve the problem individually only be blocked by the third defender.
  • 63:: Bruno Alves tries his luck from distance but slices his shot high and wide.
  • 61:: Nani, who has looked lively since coming on, wins a corner which he himself takes and Pepe heads wide.
  • 60:: One hour gone and worryingly for Portugal clear-cut chances are still hard to come by.
  • 57:: Fernandes and Ronaldo combine to release Nani but the keeper gets to the ball first.
  • 54:: Double substitution by Carlos Queiroz. On comes Nani and Quaresma for Moutinho and Danny.
  • 52:: Hugo Almeida close to opening the scoring. Perfect cross from Miguel picks out the big striker unmarked but his header goes straight at Beqaj who keeps it out.
  • 49:: Manuel Fernandes shoots from the edge of the area but the impressive Beqaj again shows safe hands.
  • 46:: Portugal kick off the second half with no substitutions. Albania take off their lone striker and throw on a defender. Portugal almost score! Excellent combination between Ronaldo and Ferreira ends with the latter crossing for Danny whose shot forces Beqaj into an excellent sprawling save.
  • 45::
    Intense pressure from Portugal. A series of crosses rain into the box but the the Albanian defence hold firm.
     
    The half-time whistle goes in Braga with the game still goalless. Portugal have had a virtual monopoly of possession with both players who came into the staring line-up Danny and Manuel Fernandes looking lively but clear-cut chances have been conspicuously absent. 
     
    Albania have looked solid in defence but the sending off at the end of the first half will make their task of holding out more difficult. Queiroz orders Nani to warm up during the interval. 
  • 42:: Red Card Teli catches Ronaldo with a flailing arm and the referee has no hesitation in showing him a second yellow card and ordering the defender to take an early bath.
  • 38:: Yellow Card Lala brings down Moutinho with a nasty challenge from behind. Moutinho gingerly gets to his feet. Dangerous free kick on the corner of the box is crossed in by Fernandes but Teli does well to head clear. 
  • 34:: Free kick in a central position 30 metres out. Ronaldo's first effort is blocked but Teli is booked Yellow Card for breaking from the wall early and the free kick is retaken. The goalkeeper can't hold Ronaldo's second effort but the ball is kicked out for a corner before Danny or Almeida can latch onto the rebound.
  • 31:: Super pass from Pepe releases Moutinho whose cross is cut out for a corner. A melee in the box ensues with Ronaldo going down and claiming a penalty. The referee waves away the protests.
  • 27:: Albania inches away from taking the lead! A dangerous break ends up with a low cross that just evades the sliding Albanian striker. Miguel blasts the ball clear from under the bar. 
  • 25:: Ronaldo dances past two defenders and is brought down unceremoneously. Good shooting position for and no prizes for guessing who's lining up to take it. The Manchester United man takes a short run-up and hit the ball in that characteristic strange style of his but the ball fizzes over the bar.
  • 20:: Ronaldo wins a dangerous free kick on the left flank. Five Portugal players in the box but the goalkeeper makes a flying punch to clear the danger. Miguel picks up the ball 30 metres out and tries his luck but Beqaj saves without difficulty.
  • 19:: Danny shows a deft touch to get past his man and whip in a dangerous cross into the box but the ball is cleared. Portugal are starting to apply heavy pressure.
  • 17:: Excellent individual initiative from Fernandes who works himself space and fires a shot just over the bar from 20 metres.
  • 15:: Excellent pass from Fernandes releases Danny speeding down the right win. His cross falls at the feet of Moutinho on the edge of the area but the Sporting midfielder's shot goes horribly high and wide.
  • 12:: Miguel lends a hand to the attack, doing well to capture a long cross and cross low into the box, but Beqaj makes a diving stop to cut out the danger.
  • 10:: Portugal are dominating possession as you would expect but lack penetration so far. Albania are closing down Portugal's forwards effectively.
  • 6:: First strike on goal from the Albanians. Duro's effort from distance drifts wide.
  • 5:: Bruno Alves latches onto the corner and hits a firm shot but staight at the keeper Beqaj who pouches the ball.
  • 4:: Good combination play between Danny and Ronaldo on the left flank. The Zenit man wins a corner.
  • 1:: Early danger for Portugal. Ronaldo wins a free kick on the left flank and swings in a cross but the Albanian defence holds firm and clears the danger. 
  • 0::

    An early blow for Portugal as Chelsea full-back Bosingwa is ruled out after getting injured in the team's final training session in Braga earlier today. Valencia defender Miguel steps in for the former FC Porto player. Danny and Manuel Fernandes also get a starting berth in place of Fernando Meira and Nani. 

    In any event, anything other than victory is unthinkable for Portugal tonight. Official line-ups:

    PORTUGAL:
    Quim, Miguel, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Paulo Ferreira, Raul Meireles, Manuel Fernandes, Joao Moutinho, Danny, Hugo Almeida, Cristiano Ronaldo

     

    ALBANIA:
    Arjan Beqaj, Elvin Beqiri, Debatik Curri, Kristi Vangieli, Ervin Bulku, Altin Lala, Lorik Cana, Klodian Duro, Ansi Agolli, Ervin Skela, Erjon Bogdani 




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