Fluent Portugal make dominant start

Portugal 2-0 Turkey

Portugal produced a solid and at times sparkling performance in their Euro 2008 opener, beating Turkey 2-0 to go top of Group A after the first round of matches.

Second-half goals from Pepe and Raul Meireles were just reward for a dominant display, with Nuno Gomes twice and Cristiano Ronaldo hitting the woodwork.

Luiz Felipe Scolari did not spring any last-minute surprises and selected the team that started Portugal’s final warm-up match against Georgia last week. In front of a colourful crowd bedecked in the red and green of Portugal and red of Turkey, it was the Seleccao who started much the brighter.

Deco, especially, put his recent poor form behind him, spraying some wonderful passes to Simao on the left flank and Ronaldo, ably supported by Bosingwa, on the opposite wing.

Goal ruled out

And Portugal’s early pressure almost brought its reward in the 16th minute, when a well worked corner between Deco and Simao ended with a superb cross from the Benfica man being headed into the net by Pepe, but the goal was ruled out as the Real Madrid defender had strayed marginally offside.

Portugal continued to hog possession, with Turkey almost non-existent as an attacking force. Deco continued to probe intelligently, while the excellent Petit and Moutinho formed a hard-working and creative midfield trio that bodes well for the rest of the tournament.

Simao sent a free-kick just over the bar before another foul near the edge of the box gave Ronaldo a chance to hit one of his trademark set pieces. The Manchester United man struck a firm cross-shot that Demirel did superbly well to tip onto the post.

Before the break both Deco and Moutinho had shooting opportunities in the box but were crowded out by desperate last-ditch challenges. Simao and Ronaldo were keeping the Turkish rearguard stretched, although the defenders largely did a fine job in marshalling the duo.

If Turkish fans were hoping for a more adventurous approach from their team in the second period they would be disappointed, as Portugal increased their stranglehold on possession, with the Turks clearly opting for counter-attacking tactics.

Gomes hits post

Portugal were again unlucky not to take the lead in the 50th minute when Simao did well to take advantage of hesitation in the Turkish defence and touch the ball to Nuno Gomes, who hit his shot past goalkeeper Demirel and watched agonisingly as it struck the inside of the post and bounced across the goal to safety.

Wave after wave of attacks were now raining down on Demirel’s goal, but when the breakthrough came on the hour mark it derived from an unlikely source. Pepe went on a marauding run through the centre, playing a perfect one-two with Gomes before bundling the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations among the Portuguese contingent in the crowd.

Gomes was unlucky not to double Portugal’s lead shortly afterwards when his header beat the goalkeeper but came crashing back into play off the bar.

With full time nearing Scolari replaced Gomes, Simao and Deco with Nani, Raul Meireles and Fernando Meira as the Brazilian looked to guarantee the victory. Yet there was still time for Turkey to have perhaps their best opportunity of the match when Tuncay was afforded space inside the box, only to snatch wildly at the chance and make contact with thin air.

In the last move the match Portugal scored a richly deserved second goal after a brilliant counter-attack. Ronaldo turned past his marker on the half-way line, raced into the box and passed to Moutinho. The Sporting midfielder spun cleverly past the last defender and touched the ball past the keeper into the path of the onrushing Meireles who gleefully knocked the ball into the empty net.

The vibrant attacking play produced throughout, solid defence and absence of yellow cards made it just about the perfect start for Portugal, although as Scolari was quick to point out immediately after the match, tougher challenges lie ahead.

PortuGOAL man of the match – Deco:
The Barcelona playmaker was at his magical best, causing constant problems with his incisive and inventive passing.

Portugal:
Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Deco (Fernando Meira, 90), Petit, Joao Moutinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno Gomes (Nani, 68), Simao (Raul Meireles, 82)

Turkey:
Demirel, Altintop (Senturk, 75), Gokhan Zan (Emre Asik, 55), Servet Cetin, Hakan Balt, Kazin, Aurelio, Emre, Erdinnc (Sabri, 46), Nihat, Tuncay
Yellow Cards: Kazin, Gokhan Zan, Sabr

Goals:
[1-0] Pepe, 60
[2-0] Raul Meireles, 92