Classy Portugal ease to 2-0 win over Turkey in Euro 2008
Real Madrid defender Pepe scored the opening goal
Saturday, 07, Jun 2008 09:45
A goal from centre-half Pepe and another from Raul Meireles has given Portugal a 2-0 win over Turkey this evening in Group A of Euro 2008.
Portugal dominated the first-half and thought they had taken the lead when a header from Real Madrid defender Pepe flew into the net. But the goal was disallowed by the linesman for offside.
A raking 40 yard pass from Deco found Simao in space inside the Turkey penalty area, but the winger took an age to cross the ball into the area where Nuno Gomes and Ronaldo were waiting unmarked and was eventually dispossessed.
Simao almost made up for his poor play moments later when he managed to wrestle away a free-kick from Ronaldo and saw his curling effort go inches over the bar.
Ronaldo had a quiet first half, but burst into life on the half hour mark when he went on a mazy run beating four Turkey players in the process only to see his weak effort on goal go harmlessly wide.
The Manchester United winger came agonisingly close to opening the scoring seven minutes later when he saw a trademark 25 yard free-kick from the corner of the outside of the penalty area come crashing back off the inside of the post.
Portugal continued to dominate and youngster Joao Moutinho had another good effort on goal when he broke into the box and thumped a shot just over the bar.
The second-half started as the first had ended with Portugal dominating. They hit the post again on the 50th minute mark when the ball fell to Gomes inside the Turkey penalty area and his shot of the outside of the right boot came back of the woodwork.
Portugal took a deserved lead on the hour mark and it came from the most unlikely of sources. Centre-half Pepe strolled out from the back and passed the ball to Gomes on the edge of the box before collecting the return ball and Pepe coolly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper.
Gomes almost doubled the lead moments later when a beautiful Ronaldo cross from the left flank was headed onto the bar from the Benfica striker.
A brilliant move from Portugal sealed the game at stoppage time. Ronaldo outmuscled his marker on the halfway line and then crossed the ball to Moutinho who turned his man and laid the ball to Meireles who fired home.
Sarwar Alam