Euro2008 Qualifying, Serbia 1-1 Portugal

Portugal thwarted by defiant Serbia

Serbia and Portugal fought out a 1-1 draw in a highly entertaining Euro 2008 Group A qualifier on Wednesday. Tiago fired Portugal into a fifth-minute lead and Bosko Jankovic put the Serbs back on level terms in the 37th minute to the delight of a raucous 51,000 home crowd.


Both sides missed plenty of chances in a pulsating match whose outcome left them level on 11 points from six matches along with Finland, who suffered a 1-0 setback at Azerbaijan earlier on Wednesday. All three are five points behind group leaders Poland. Portugal took the lead with their first meaningful venture into the Serbian half when Tiago unleashed a swerving shot from 20 metres that sailed over keeper Vladimir Stojkovic who was caught out of position.

It took 18 minutes for Serbia to test Portugal No1 Ricardo, who kept out Duško Tošić's ten-metre strike, but Portugal again ought to have doubled their advantage when Nuno Gomes headed Simão's corner over from five metres. At the other end, Nemanja Vidić's physical presence was causing the Portugal defence problems and the Manchester United FC defender nodded wide from close range shortly before the half-hour.


The hosts dragged themselves level, though, when Dejan Stanković's corner was headed home by Janković eight minutes before the break. Nuno Gomes almost replied instantly yet his attempt flashed wide. Winger Cristiano Ronaldo then came close to getting on the scoresheet only for his shot to be superbly blocked by Igor Duljal on the stroke of half-time. Portugal resumed the second half in control with João Moutinho's strike demanding a fantastic save from Stojković. The latter excelled again on 64 minutes to frustrate Tiago, before the keeper completed a fine individual display by repelling Ronaldo's powerful free-kick late on.

Euro2008 Qualifying, Serbia 1-1 Portugal highlights video:

Euro2008 qualifying matches, Portugal 4-0 Belgium

Classy Portugal cruise past Belgium

Portugal maintained their 100 per cent home record in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying with a hugely convincing 4-0 victory over Belgium at Lisbon's José Alvalade stadium.

Second-half blitz
After a first half where they failed to translate their vast superiority into goals, Luiz Felipe Scolari's side made amends as second-half strikes from Nuno Gomes, Cristiano Ronaldo (2) and Ricardo Quaresma secured a third straight home success in Group A. Now up to third in the section, they will hope to climb even higher when they visit Serbia on Wednesday.

Portugal possession
From the fourth minute, when the skilful Quaresma swerved an effort wide, it seemed a matter of when, rather than if, Portugal would make the breakthrough. The same player then shot wastefully over after Tiago played him through on 13 minutes, but with Belgium struggling to keep the ball, further chances followed. Ronaldo alone went close three times in a first half when Portugal enjoyed 69 per cent of possession.

Breakthrough
Nuno Gomes squandered a glorious opportunity to open the second period with a goal, placing a left-foot volley wide after Tiago's lofted ball had found him unmarked. The striker made no mistake on 53 minutes, though, when he tapped in after fine work by Ronaldo and João Moutinho, and three minutes later it was 2-0 as Ronaldo headed in at the far post from Quaresma's superb chip. If Belgium retained any faint hopes, these vanished altogether when debutant Thomas Chatelle missed an open goal with his first touch.

Quaresma cracker
Quaresma registered the goal of the night in the 69th minute with a superb first international strike, bending the ball over Stijn Stijnen and into the far corner with the outside of his right boot. The Belgium keeper then denied Tiago and Nani, yet was beaten a final time on 75 minutes when Ronaldo shimmied inside his marker and directed a low effort into the net from the edge of the box. On this evidence Portugal can travel to Serbia full of confidence; Belgium, on the contrary, have plenty to do before their next qualifier – at home to the Portuguese on 2 June.

Euro2008 qualifying matches, Portugal 4-0 Belgium highlights and goals:

Carvalho caps Brazil's first defeat under Dunga,
Brazil 0-2 Portugal.

For the second time Luiz Felipe Scolari has led Portugal to victory over his fellow countrymen, with whom he won the World Cup, and even this patriot enjoyed the success. It came thanks to two well taken strikes, the second from Ricardo Carvalho in front of the watching Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho.

Substitute Simao Sabrosa got the first eight minutes from time, slotting in Ricardo Quaresma's right-wing cross.

Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho wrapped it up in stoppage time, hooking home a cross to hand Scolari a second win over his home country as Portugal manager. Lucio went closest for Brazil, but his shot slammed against the crossbar.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari:
"Victory over a team that has been top of the world rankings and five times world champion gives us more self-esteem and confidence before our next Euro qualifying match against Belgium

"It was a very good game and either side could have won but we made the better use of our opportunities, although they had more opportunities than us.

Brazil coach Dunga:
"We anticipated these would be dangerous opponents. We should have played the ball more down the wings because, when you go through the middle, you leave yourself open to counter-attacks.

"We have to learn from it. We are starting to prepare for the World Cup. This showed us we have much left to learn. That is football.

Brazil 4-2-3-1 Helton; Maicon (Alves, 64), Lucio, Juan (Luisao, 45), Gilberto; Gilberto Silva, Edmilson · (Tinga, 63); Elano, Kaka, Rafael Sobis (Adriano, 45); Fred (Diego, 68)

Portugal 4-3-3

Ricardo; Miguel, Carvalho (Meira, 90), Andrade, Caneira (Ferriera, 45); Tiago · (Joao Moutinho, 68), Petit, Deco (Viana, 61); Ronaldo (Simao, 63) Postiga (Nuno Gomes, 75), Quaresma

Special Thanks to Mona

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, ( born 5 February 1985 ) , Born into a poor family on the Portuguese island of Madeira off the Morrocan coast, he spent his early footballing years starring for the local side, Nacional.
Sporting Lisbon snapped him up for their schoolboy team at the age of 13 for £1,500. Yet his first few months were spent defending himself from the local players who taunted him over his accent. The difference between Madeira and Lisbon is the Portuguese equivalent of England and Scotland. And on more than one occasion he found himself in bust-ups with youngsters who mocked the way he spoke. Cristiano Ronaldo became Manchester United's newest young hero when he signed from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003 and was immediately given David Beckham's number 7 shirt.The Portuguese teenager was expected to take his time to settle in England, but made an immediate impact with a stunning debut against Bolton at Old Trafford. While he did not always replicate that level of performance in his first season, Ronaldo's tricks were always entertaing at the very least.

However for all his skill and pace, Ronaldo supposedly did not want the pressure of living up to expectations with this number, and so initially asked for the number 28 which he wore at Sporting. Preferring a free role, A row between him and Ruud van Nistelrooy at the Carrington training ground intensified speculation about their roles at the club. Ferguson has however put his faith with Ronaldo, who signed a new deal with United that will last through 2010. Ronaldo is also quoted in the Manchester Evening News as saying "United have stood by me and been there for me and I want to repay that."

Ronaldo also performed well for Portugal in the World Cup in Germany, helping them get to the semi-finals, although his tournament was overshadowed by the part he was alleged to have played in getting United team-mate Wayne Rooney sent off in the quarter-finals. The young winger was made public enemy number one by the English press, while quotes attributed to him about wanting to join Real Madrid only made him more unpopular. 2006/07 is a big season for him if he is going to live up to the potential he has shown so far, and rise above the negative attention he will be getting from opposition fans.