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2 June 2007

Belgium v Portugal

Live match commentary


Welcome to live match commentary of Portugal’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifying match against Belgium.

Scolari’s men will be looking for three points to consolidate second place in Group A and make up ground on runaway leaders, Poland.



Belgium 1-2 Portugal


Belgium:
Stijnen, Hoefkens (De Man, 45), Simons, Clement, Vermaelen, Defour, Fellaini, Mudingayi (Geraerts, 77), Vertonghen, Sterchele (De Mul, 61), Emile Mpenza

Portugal:
Ricardo, Miguel (Bosingwa, 53), Fernando Meira, Jorge Andrade, Paulo Ferreira, Petit, Tiago, Deco, Nani (Duda, 86), Quaresma, Helder Postiga (Hugo Almeida, 79)

Goals:
[0-1] Nani, 43
[1-1] Fellaini, 55
[1-2] Helder Postiga, 64

Reaction: “We depend only on ourselves for qualification” - Ricardo


Text Commentary: Belgium 1-2 Portugal
  • 94:: (1-2) Full time. Portugal win to secure second place in Group A. Helder Postiga the man of the match with Tiago, Deco and Nani also putting in fine displays.
  • 93:: (1-2) One minute to go. Red Card Almeida sent off after horror tackle from behind.
  • 90:: (1-2) Referee gives four minutes stoppage time. Almost 2 are used up after Tiago and a Belgium player get injured in an ugly challenge.
  • 88:: (1-2) Belgium win dangerous free-kick. Ricardo punches clear but the ball comes back into the danger area. The commanding Meira heads clear. Portugal are suffering but there's not much time to hold on...
  • 87:: (1-2) Vertonghen has shooting chance. He pulls the trigger and... the ball goes over the bar.
  • 86:: (1-2) Danger in the Portugal box. Meira cuts out a cross at the near post.
  • 85:: (1-2) Nani, who's had a quiet second half is replaced by Sevilla winger Duda. Second debut of the night.
  • 82:: (1-2) Portugal! Portugal! chants ring around the stadium. Are we in Brussels or Lisbon?
  • 78:: (1-2) Postiga goes off to be replaced by former team-mate Hugo Almeida. Superb display by Postiga.
  • 76:: (1-2) Nearing the final ten minutes. Portugal must hold on to the three points after Serbia and Poland both won earlier today.
  • 75:: (1-2) Quaresma gives away silly foul and the referee brandishes the yellow card Yellow Card.
  • 74:: (1-2) Subdued passage of play. Portugal try to take the steam out of the match.
  • 68:: (1-2) Quaresma next to threaten, but the Porto man shoots weakly when well-placed.
  • 67:: (1-2) Venemous counter-attack. Tiago through on goal but that man Stijnen denies Portugal again.
  • 66:: (1-2) Incredible atmosphere in Brussels created by the massive 20,000 following for the away team.
  • 64:: (1-2) The Porto striker hits an unstoppable 30-metre shot that arrows into the top corner. Portugal back in front.
  • 63:: (1-2) GoaaaalPostiga scores with fantastic strike!!!
  • 62:: (1-1) Yellow card Yellow Card for a needless handball for Belgium's Defour.
  • 60:: (1-1) Hesitant defending from Portugal. Shot fired in winning Belgium a corner, which comes to nothing.
  • 57:: Pass from Nani to Tiago who fires a shot towards goal. Great reaction save from Stijnen. The Belgium keeper has put it a highly impressive display tonight.
  • 54:: (1-1) GoaaaalGoal for Belgium. Fellaini heads in powerefully a cross from the left, leaving Ricardo no chance.
  • 52:: Belgium are pressing hard for an equaliser. A defeat here and they can kiss the Euro 2008 goodbye.
  • 49:: (0-1) Miguel goes down injured. The Valencia man is clearly in a bad way but the referee is having none of it, showing Miguel the yellow card Yellow Card. But Miguel wasn't feigning. He goes off on a stretcher to be replaced by Bosingwa. International debut for the Porto right-back.
  • 47:: (0-1) Long ball into the Portugal box. Belgium striker through on goal. Ricardo saves the day with excellent point-blank stop.
  • 46:: (0-1) Second half gets underway. Nani receives some rough treatment from a Belgium defender but is fit to continue.
  • 45:: (0-1) Belgium defender goes off injured - referee blows whistle for the break. Portugal walk off the pitch with a spring in their stap and a well-deserved lead. That man Nani will again be making the headlines tomorrow.
  • 44:: Sporting must be wishing they waited a week before selling Nani. Would have probably got another 5 million euros!
  • 43:: Belgium 0-1 PORTUGAL
  • 42:: GoaaaalNani scores wonder goal!!!! Postiga turns his marker and finds Nani free on the left. The Man Utd man skips past his marker and fires and unstoppable shot into the net off the post. ALex Ferguson must be rubbing his hands in delight!!
  • 40:: 0-0. Five minutes until the break. Portugal have had plenty of chances but the scored remains goalless.
  • 36:: At the other end of the pitch Vertonghen tries his luck from distance but the shot sails harmlessly over the bar.
  • 35:: Nani swivels past his marker and fires a firm shot towards goal. Stijnen comes up with another sharp save.
  • 32:: Swift counter attack by Portugal sees the ball moved smoothly between Nani, Deco to Quaresma. Just the keeper to beat he must score... The Porto winger shoots over. Great chance wasted.
  • 30:: Superb run and turn in the box by Postiga brings a fine diving save out of Stijnen. The Porto striker was rarely used in the second half of the season by Jesualdo Ferreira, but he's on fire tonight.
  • 28:: Defour shoots from edge of area, but Ricardo has it covered.
  • 27:: After a lightning start by Portugal, Belgium have started to look the more threatening.
  • 23:: Mpenza bursts through the centre - Meria makes wonderful saving tackle as the striker pulls the trigger.
  • 22:: Half-way through the first half the score still 0-0.
  • 20:: Mpenza threatens agains. Bicycle kick towards goal but straight at Ricardo who grabs the ball at the second attempt.
  • 17:: Danger for Portugal. Sterchele works his way into the box and shoots just past Ricardo's right post. Electric start to the match.
  • 15:: Play switches to the other end. Good move ends with Petit shot just wide of the post.
  • 14:: The crowd wake up as Belgium attack dangerously. Mpenza gets on the end of a cross and shoots dangerously, just over.
  • 13:: Shock in Belgium. The home side are in Portugal's half.
  • 12:: Deco turns his man and shoots from distance. Just wide. This is embarrassingly easy for Portugal.
  • 11:: Portugal are completely dominating. They already deserve a goal.
  • 10:: 25m euro man Nani corsses perfectly for Postiga. Point-blank header brings out great save from keeper!
  • 8:: Quaresma looking menacing again. Cross cut out for a corner.
  • 7:: Fantastic run by Quaresma, Deco shoots. Stijnen saves well
  • 5:: A tentative Belgium attack comes to nothing.
  • 4:: Petit tries his luck from distance, but... over the bar again.
  • 3:: Confident start by Portugal, hogging possession.
  • 2:: Cross by Quaresma, Postiga shoots... but effort goes over the bar
  • 1:: BELGIUM - Stijnen; Hoefkens, Simons, Clement, Vermaelen; Defour, Mudingayi, Fellaini, Vertonghen; Sterchele, Emile Mpenza. PORTUGAL - Ricardo; Miguel, Fernando Meira, Jorge Andrade, Paulo Ferreira; Tiago, Petit, Deco, Nani, Postiga, Quaresma.

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