|
Portugal storm into first major final
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-01 08:35
Hosts Portugal roared into their first major final as goals from midfielders
Cristiano Ronaldo and Maniche sealed a deserved 2-1 victory over the Netherlands
in the first Euro 2004 semi-final.
Portugal team fans
celebrate in the fan park in Lisbon after Portugal won 2-1 against the
Netherlands in the semi-final of the Euro 2004 soccer championships on
June 30, 2004. [Reuters] |
|
Inspired by their captain Luis
Figo, Portugal went ahead on Wednesday when Ronaldo headed home a Deco corner
after 26 minutes and Maniche blasted in a stunning 58th-minute second to send
the Alvalade Stadium and the entire nation wild.
The disappointing Dutch were given brief hope by Jorge Andrade's 63rd-minute
own goal but were outclassed by the hosts and have now lost four of their five
European Championship semi-finals.
Portugal's Luis
Figo and Armando Petit (R) celebrate their team's 2-1 victory over the
Netherlands after a Euro 2004 semi-final soccer match at the Jose Alvalade
Stadium in Lisbon, June 30, 2004. [Reuters] |
|
Portugal, defeated in the 1984 and
2000 European Championship semis and in the last four at the 1966 World Cup,
will play the Czech Republic or Greece in Sunday's final in Lisbon.
Portugal's Nuno
Gomes celebrates after defeating the Netherlands in a Euro 2004 semi-final
soccer match at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon June 30, 2004.
[Reuters] |
|
The
victory continued Portugal's remarkable recovery from their defeat by Greece in
the tournament's opening match and they can now emulate the Netherlands in 1988
by winning the title after losing their first game.
Portugal's Jorge
Andrade (R) kicks the ball into his own net for an own goal as Ruud van
Nistelrooy of the Netherlands watches during a Euro 2004 semi final soccer
match at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon June 30, 2004.
[Reuters] |
|
Both
sides had come into Wednesday's game via penalty shootout wins in their
quarter-finals and another looked a possibility after a nervous first 20 minutes
failed to produce a worthwhile chance.
Portugal, though, began to exert pressure, with captain Figo in sharp form on
the wing in his 109th international, which briefly gave him a share of Fernando
Couto's Portuguese record.
Goalkeeper Edwin
van der Sar (L) of the Netherlands embraces defender Jaap Stam (R)
following a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in their Euro 2004 semi final soccer
match at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon June 30, 2004.
[Reuters] |
|
Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma made a desperate tackle to deny
recalled striker Pauleta in the 25th minute but from Deco's resulting corner Ronaldo was
left unmarked to power a close-range header past a rooted Edwin van der Sar.
Referee Anders Frisk booked Ronaldo for taking off his shirt to celebrate the
goal but he avoided any further misdemeanours and is free to play on Sunday.
Curling shot
Striker Pauleta, who missed the quarter-final win over England through
suspension, should have buried a Maniche cross after 35 minutes following a
great build-up but shot straight at Van der Sar, while Figo hit the post with a
superb curling effort four minutes before the break.
The Dutch were poor in the first half, Marc Overmars blasting a volley over
the bar with their best chance and striker Ruud van Nistelrooy having a
close-range shot ruled out for offside.
Dutch coach Dick Advocaat threw on striker Roy Makaay for the second half in
place of Overmars and attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart for Bouma in an
effort to boost his attack.
It was Portugal who should have scored again, however, when Pauleta shot
straight at Van der Sar when clean through.
Maniche showed the centre forward how to finish soon after though when he
sent a wonderful 20-metre shot arcing beyond Van der Sar from outside the left
corner of the penalty area following a short corner.
The Netherlands got back into the game five minutes later when centre back
Andrade, trying to cut out from Giovanni van Bronckhorst a cross aimed at Van
Nistelrooy, succeeded only in looping the ball over Ricardo and into his own
net.
As the Dutch threw more men forward gaps opened at the back and Deco both
missed a great chance to settle the match in stoppage time.
The hosts had gone out at the semi-final stage in the last four European
Championships but the whistle sounded to end that run, sparking delirious scenes
of celebration on the pitch and setting off another sleepless night for the
residents of Lisbon.
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top Sports
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
