18 October 2007, by Joao Pedro

Makukula and Ronaldo fire Portugal to crucial win

Kazakhstan 1-2 Portugal

Portugal came up with two late goals to earn three more points on the road to Euro 2008, with a 2-1 win in Kazakhstan. Second-half substitutes Makukula and Nani breathed life into what had become an inoffensive Portugal.

The Maritimo man had already made his presence felt before marking his debut with a headed goal. Nani and Ronaldo then combined beautifully for the latter to smash his 20th Portugal goal into the net in the 90th minute. There was still time for Byakov to get one back for the home team in stoppage time.

Makukula: “I am not a hero, we are all heroes.”
>> Minute by minute as it happened >>


Stand-in coach Flavio Murtoso kept faith with the team that beat Azerbaijan 2-0 on Saturday and Portugal started well, pushing Kazakhstan, roared on by a partisan capacity crowd, firmly onto the back foot from the outset.

Almeida early threats

Hugo Almeida had the ball in the net in the 6th minute but the strike was correctly ruled out as the Werder Bremen striker had strayed just offside. Two minutes later Deco played the big striker through on goal but a last-ditch saving tackle prevented Almeida from opening the scoring.

Portugal continued to press, winning a series of corners and causing panic in the home defence thanks to the aerial strength of Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho and Almeida. Maniche sent a cannonball shot just over the bar on the half-hour mark, but Portugal then waned as the match neared the interval.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half was even worse from Portugal’s point of view, as the well organised Kazakhstan rearguard did not give their illustrious opponents a sniff at goal. Murtoso had seen enough and sent on winger Nani and striker Makukula in quick succession, bringing off Maniche and Almeida.

The double substitution had the desired effect, with both players dynamising the Portugal attack, and simultaneously Ronaldo starting to run the Kazak defenders ragged. The Maritimo striker, making his senior debut, was especially impressive, twice coming close with headers and sending a shot from the edge of the box skimming not far wide.

Quaresma magic

Ricardo Quaresma had endured a dismal game thus far, but all was forgiven when the Porto winger produced a wonderful piece of skill to beat his marker and cross perfectly onto the head of Makukula who gleefully headed into the net.

It then turned into the Ronaldo and Nani show as the Manchester United team-mates combined to devastating effect three times in quick succession. From the first chance created Ronaldo’s drive was well saved by the goalkeeper Loriya, from the second Nani dinked an effort over Loriya but just the wrong side of the post, from the third Portugal would seal the win.

Nani showed more excellent wing play and great awareness to square the ball to Ronaldo who fairly hammered the ball into the roof to the net.

To cap a frenetic last ten minutes Byakov headed into the net for a consolation goal in stoppage time after Ricardo had saved the initial strike spectacularly.

The result sees Portugal move to within one point of leaders Poland, but more importantly put daylight between themselves and qualification rivals Finland and Serbia. Four points from Portugal’s final two matches at home to Armenia and Finland will see Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team book their place at Euro 2008.

PortuGOAL man of the match:
Makukula: A dream debut capped with a deserved goal for the big striker. Looked a real threat from the moment he came on.

Kazakhstan:
Loriya, Smakov, Kuchma, Zhalmagambetov, Irismetov, Karpovich (Suyumagambetov, 88), Skorykh, Larin (Lyapkin, 36), Zhymaskaliev, Byakov, Ostapenko
Yellow Cards: Karpovich, Irismetov, Smakov

Portugal:
Ricardo, Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Paulo Ferreira, Deco, Miguel Veloso, Maniche (Nani, 60), Quaresma (Joao Moutinho, 83), Cristiano Ronaldo, Hugo Almeida (Makukula, 63)
Yellow Cards: Maniche

Goals:
[0-1] Makukula, 82
[0-2] Ronaldo, 90
[1-2] Byakov, 92