13 November 2005, by Tom Kundert

Efficient Portugal see off Croatia

Portugal 2-0 Croatia

In a typically slow-paced international friendly, Portugal chalked up another victory to keep confidence riding high.

Despite doing without regular starters Figo, Andrade and Deco, the home team proved too good for Croatia, who were beaten by a goal in each half from Petit and Pauleta.

Luiz Felipe Scolari resisted the temptation to send out an overtly experimental team in the knowledge that this would be the first of only four or five preparatory matches before the World Cup gets underway.

Of the second-line players called into action, Tiago, Petit and Boa Morte were those who most impressed, while equally encouraging was Ronaldo’s return to form and Pauleta’s continuing rich goal-scoring vein.

Pauleta had the ball in the net early on, only to have the effort ruled out for offside, as Portugal dominated the opening exchanges without creating much in the way of clear-cut chances.

Petit beauty

On 32 minutes the referee awarded a foul to Portugal in a central position 20 metres from goal. Benfica midfielder Petit, fresh from scoring two goals from direct free-kicks last weekend, took responsibility and sent a perfect shot curling into the top corner. Croatia almost equalised immediately when Balaban crashed a shot against the bar.

Portugal doubled their lead twenty minutes into the second half when Ronaldo launched a quick counter-attack, and fed Pauleta who expertly turned his marker and fired across Butina into the corner of the net.

Scolari took advantage of the post-match interview to defend goalkeeper Ricardo, who was whistled at and booed by the crowd throughout the match, reflecting a strong school of thought in the country that Porto veteran Vitor Baía should be between the posts.

“Of course I’m concerned about the campaign against Ricardo. There’s a very large lobby [calling for the recall of Baía] but it’s me who chooses the team and I’m not going to change anything. They shouldn’t be campaigning against him but against the person who selects the team.”

Portugal:
Ricardo, Miguel (Paulo Ferreira, 60), Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Caneira (Jorge Ribeiro, 80), Costinha, Petit (Frechaut, 73), Tiago (Hélder Postiga, 78), Cristiano Ronaldo (João Alves, 76), Pauleta (Nuno Gomes, 65), Boa Morte

Croatia:
Butina, Tomas, Robert Kovac, Simunic, Srna (Tokic, 45), Jerko Leko, Nico Kovac (Bosnjak, 45), Kranjkar, Babic, Balaban (Leko, 76), Prso
Yellow cards: Kovac (36), Leko (40)

Goals:
[1-0] Petit, 32
[2-0] Pauleta, 65