Portugal gain upper hand in World Cup play-off

Portugal 1-0 Bosnia

Portugal will travel to Bosnia for the second leg on Wednesday with a slim one-goal advantage, thanks to Bruno Alves' first-half header.

In a surprisingly open match the Seleccao had chances to build up a bigger lead but that would have been harsh on a Bosnia side that lived up to the pre-match billing as a good attacking unit. Indeed, the visitors may feel aggrieved to be leaving Lisbon with a defeat after hitting the woodwork on three occasions. 

If we were nervous tonight, how on earth are we going to survive Wednesday's match?

Portugal 1-0 Bosnia

94' Tiago has the final chance of the match, hitting his volley well but too close to Hasagic who saves on the line. The referee blows the final whistle.

93' More panic in the Portugal box. The referee brings relief as a Bosnian forward controls the ball with his hand.

92' Four minutes of stoppage time. A well worked free-kick from Portugal ends with Meireles' cross just evading Pepe's head.

88' Incredible incredible let-off for Portugal!!! Bosnia seem certain to score twice but the ball smacks against the woodwork on both occasions. Is that the piece of luck that sends Portugal to South Africa?

87' Simao Sabrosa comes off for Hugo Almeida. Ricardo Carvalho takes the captain's armband for Portugal.

86' Muratovic is replaced by young Bosnian striker Pjanic.

85' Portugal showing their nerves. Coentrao loses the ball in a dangerous position and panic ensues in the Portugal box, with the defenders at last clearing the danger.

83' Deco hits the ball into the wall and it is the Chelsea man's last piece of action as Tiago is thrown into the fray by Queiroz.

81' Free-kick for Portugal right on the edge of the box, slap-bang in the middle of the goal. Great chance for Portugal.

80' On comes Muslimovic for Misimovic. Tiago warms up on the sidelines.

76' Dzeko at last appears, cutting inside and firing a powerful shot that Eduardo is happy to see fizz into the side-netting.

74' The inexhaustable Liedson somehow manages to get the better of two Bosnian defenders near the corner flag, earning a huge cheer from the crowd.

72' Misimovic looses sight of the ball when he could have been clean through. Eduardo scrambles the ball away. Let-off for Portugal.

70' Twenty minutes to go. Another sensational peice of play by Pepe sets up Fabio Coentrao who runs at the defence but produces a weak shot.  Yellow Card Spahic for a crude challenge on Pepe. It's the third Bosnian who has ruled himself out of the second match.

68' It's a surprise substitution as Nani is the player brought off by Queiroz and the Benfica man runs on.

66' Fabio Coentrao strips off and gets ready for his Portugal debut in his home stadium.

63' Superb play from Pepe who works the ball to Liedson. The striker lays the ball off to Simao who hits a powerful shot just over.

61' Simao turns one way and the other, creates space for a shot, and his effort is deflected for a comfortable save for Hasagic.

60' Excellent spell of pressure from Portugal.

59' Next it's Meireles who threatens, hitting a low shot that Hasagic saves.

58' Deco comes close with a powerful shot that just clears the bar.

57' Portugal inches away from doubling their lead!!! Good run from Deco, whose cross finds Liedson. The Sporting striker brilliantly turns his man but with just the goalkeeper in front of him incredibly lifts his shot over the bar.

55' Play largely confined to midfield. Both sets of players seem to be affected by nerves given what's at stake.

51' Duda hits the free-kick into the wall and the danger is cleared.

50' Scappy start to the second half. Portugal snap out of defence with Pepe surging forward and Nani winning a free-kick in a dangerous position 10 yards outside the box.

47'  Yellow Card for Rahimic for cutting out a Portugal counter-attack with his hand. He too misses the second leg.

46' Second half kicks off. Bosnia attacking towards their boisterous fans.


A highly entertaining half comes to an end with Portugal enjoying a vital lead. The hosts looked good in the opening half hour and were rewarded with a Bruno Alves goal. But Bosnia are far from out of it, and had Portugal's defence wobbling in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Some sorting out to do by Queiroz.


45' Half-time whistle goes with Pepe and Alves in heated discussion as Bosnia end the half well on top.

44' Next Ibisevic hits a free-kick inches over the bar. Portugal need the break fast.

43' Bosnia hit the bar!!! Ibricic rises highest at the near post and crashes a header against the woodwork.

42' Bosnia having a purple patch. The visitors are applying heavy pressure on the home defence. A series of corners have the Portugal defence backtracking.

40' A worry for Portugal. Bruno Alves appears to be carrying an injury.

39' Eduardo saves Portugal! Salihovic fires a powerful cross-shot towards the net and Eduardo does well to block it with his legs. The rebound shot the same player is deflected out for a corner.

37'  Yellow Card. Another crunching challenge, this time on Liedson leaves the referee with no option but to brandish the yellow card to Muratovic. The big defender missed the 2nd leg in Bosnia.

34' Bosnia almost hit straight back. Ibisevic is left criminally unmarked in the six-yard box, swivels, shoots but the ball is flies over the bar. Close shave...

31' GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Nani again does well to fly down the right wing. This time his cross is a peach. Liedson just fails to get the vital touch but BRUNO ALVES is at the second post to head in from point-blank range.

30' Paulo Ferreira goes on a surging run, plays a nifty give and go with Liedson and tries his luck from distance. His low shot brings a sprawling save out of Hasagic. Meireles then forces the keeper to tip over the bar.

27' Good pressure from Portugal now. A corner and a free-kick rain into the visitors' box but the Bosnian defence holds firm.

26' Simao hits the effort well but his shot clips the top of the wall and the danger is over.

25' Liedson wins a free-kick in just outside the box!!!

24' Portugal are now bossing the match. A clever pass is slipped forward by Duda to Simao who just fails to get there before the keeper.

20' Good spell of pressure by Portugal. A corner causes confusion in the Bosnia box. The ball eventually comes to Bruno Alves who doesn't catch his shot well and the ball slides wide.

19' Excellent move by Portugal creates real danger in the Bosnia box. Deco dribbles through the middle, plays in Nani, but the Manchester United man just fails to get in a shot.

17' Nani goes on two excellent breaks. His first cross just evades Liedson, his second is easily gathered by goalkeeper Hasagic.

15' Ibisevic puts in a crunching challenge on Duda and picks up a yellow card.

14' Deco plays his third loose pass of the match, grabs his opponent and is shown the yellow card.

13' Ibisevic goes on a probing run but shoots wildly wide. Seconds later Dzeko does likewise.

10' Bosnia again respond immediately. Nadarevic gets his head on a corner and heads just over. Excellent start to the match.

9' Portugal threaten!!! Nani again causes problems winning a free-kick. A cross is swung in, Carvalho heads across goal and Liedson gets on the end of it, heading just wide.

6' Bosnia respond with Misimovic hitting a shot over the bar from just outside the area. Nani immediately does well to skip past his marker but his cross sails over the bar.

4' First shot of the match is for Portugal. A hasty clearance falls to Meireles who fires in a powerful cross-shot that flashes not far wide.

2' Cagey start. Pepe shows his authority with a couple of crunching clearances.


Both national anthems sung in full voice. Over 60,000 people singing "A Portuguesa" at the top of their voices - incredible sight and sound.

The atmosphere is building nicely at what promises to be a packed Estadio da Luz. The Portuguese players receive a huge cheer as the starting line-ups are announced, none more so than former Benfica favourite Simao. Carlos Queiroz has pulled something of a surprise by selecting Paulo Ferreira at right-back, in for the injured Bosingwa. The rest of the team is as expected.


Starting line-ups

Portugal:
Eduardo, Paulo Ferreira, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho, Duda, Pepe, Deco, Raul Meireles, Nani, Liedson, Simao
Subs: Patrício, Rolando, Coentrao, Tiago, Miguel, Edinho, Hugo Almeida

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!

 Yellow Card

Red Card