Cristiano Ronaldo helped Portugal script a 3-1 win over Czech Republic and all but ensure quarter-finals berth, after an entertaining Euro 2008 Group A game at Stade de Geneve, Geneva, on Wednesday.
With both sides having won their respective opening group games, they knew that the winner will be all but ensured the last-eight place, ahead of co-hosts Switzerland’s clash against Turkey later tonight.
Portugal boasting a host of creative talent, got a major contribution from 23-year-old Ronaldo, who scored one and made an assist for another goal, which was scored by substitute Ricardo Quaresma towards the closing stages, after Deco had sent last edition’s losing finalists on their way with an early breakthrough.
Deco scrambled the ball home from close range after a lovely piece of interplay with Nuno Gomes and Ronaldo in the 8th minute. Petr Cech was drawn out of his position, but the sprawling Chelsea keeper’s attempt to block the ball proved futile after initially deflecting the ball into the path of Deco.
The Czechs launched determined attempts to get on parity and succeeded in the 17th minute when Libor Sionko got the better of Portuguese defence, to direct his stooping header into the back of Ricardo’s net following a corner kick by Jaroslav Plasil from the right.
Barcelona midfielder Deco, who is linked with Chelsea and Inter Milan, embarked on an attacking run moving freely through the middle and let go a thundering long-range drive, which however, missed the top right corner narrowly in the 25th minute. Immediately, Ronaldo followed suit, but his low shot was stopped by Cech.
Karel Bruckner’s side got a corner kick in the 29th minute and came close to repeating their success with Plasil delivering from left to Sionko at far post, however the last-named failed to get a meaty shot away and Joao Moutinho cleared the mis-hit in the penalty area.
Portugal defence was all at sea when Portsmouth’s on-loan forward Milan Baros made his way into the 18-yard box with a mazy run from the right in the 35th minute. He, however, failed to make the decisive pass inside the rival territory and was also without much support.
Towards the end of the first half, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side got a couple of corner-kicks in quick succession, but Ujfalusi and Jankulovski put crucial challenges to avert the danger. Cech then, made a fantastic save off a power-packed strike from Manchester United winger Ronaldo, who again failed to beat his Premiership opponent in the stoppage time from a free-kick.
The Czechs made early forays into the rival territory into the second period, but failed apply a finish. The Portuguese also had their share of exchanges, and saw their captain Nuno Gomes come up with a meek attempt, which failed to trouble Cech, after a brisk passing move.
Gomes, who had a quiet first period, looked busy as he was away dispossessing David Rozehnal from the right, but the former Newcastle defender, made a quick recovery clearing the ball away for a corner.
Upping the ante, Portugal began to show a bit more adventurous streak approaching the hour-mark, but once again Cech, was not to be beaten as Simao found out with his stiff low shot.
Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals last season for the Red Devils, scuffed his first-time volley from the edge of the area, as the Portuguese camped into the rival territory.
The Czechs meanwhile, came close to scoring from a corner again, as Tomas Ujfalusi’s header went agonisingly wide of the far post with Baros and Sionko unable to meet it.
Portugal launched a swift move that saw Ronaldo putting them in front with a first-time drive from 16 yards, after being set up by a pin-point cross from Deco in the 63rd minute.
The Czechs, with the infusion of positive players in the form of substitutes Jan Koller and Vlcek, looked to get the equaliser as the time ticked by. And they almost managed to do it only for Ricardo to finger-tip Sionko’s header over the cross bar before Pepe came up with an important headed clearance.
Portugal made sure that there was no last minute heart-break as they got their third goal, when Ronaldo unselfishly set substitute Quaresma for a simple tap in into an open goal with Cech drawn out in the stoppage time.
Teams
Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Polak, Galasek (Koller 73), Jankulovski, Sionko, Baros, Matejovsky (Vlcek 68), Plasil (Jarolim 86), Ujfalusi, Rozehnal.
Substitutes not used: Blazek, Zitka, Kovac, Fenin, Sverkos, Pospech, Kadlec, Sivok, Skacel.
Coach: Karel Bruckner.
Portugal: Ricardo, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Petit, Joao Moutinho (Fernando Meira 75), Simao (Quaresma 80), Pepe, Carvalho, Deco, Nuno Gomes (Hugo Almeida 79).
Substitutes not used: Espirito Santo, Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Raul Meireles, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Miguel Veloso, Nani, Helder Postiga.
Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Referee: Kyros Vassaras.
With both sides having won their respective opening group games, they knew that the winner will be all but ensured the last-eight place, ahead of co-hosts Switzerland’s clash against Turkey later tonight.
Portugal boasting a host of creative talent, got a major contribution from 23-year-old Ronaldo, who scored one and made an assist for another goal, which was scored by substitute Ricardo Quaresma towards the closing stages, after Deco had sent last edition’s losing finalists on their way with an early breakthrough.
Deco scrambled the ball home from close range after a lovely piece of interplay with Nuno Gomes and Ronaldo in the 8th minute. Petr Cech was drawn out of his position, but the sprawling Chelsea keeper’s attempt to block the ball proved futile after initially deflecting the ball into the path of Deco.
The Czechs launched determined attempts to get on parity and succeeded in the 17th minute when Libor Sionko got the better of Portuguese defence, to direct his stooping header into the back of Ricardo’s net following a corner kick by Jaroslav Plasil from the right.
Barcelona midfielder Deco, who is linked with Chelsea and Inter Milan, embarked on an attacking run moving freely through the middle and let go a thundering long-range drive, which however, missed the top right corner narrowly in the 25th minute. Immediately, Ronaldo followed suit, but his low shot was stopped by Cech.
Karel Bruckner’s side got a corner kick in the 29th minute and came close to repeating their success with Plasil delivering from left to Sionko at far post, however the last-named failed to get a meaty shot away and Joao Moutinho cleared the mis-hit in the penalty area.
Portugal defence was all at sea when Portsmouth’s on-loan forward Milan Baros made his way into the 18-yard box with a mazy run from the right in the 35th minute. He, however, failed to make the decisive pass inside the rival territory and was also without much support.
Towards the end of the first half, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side got a couple of corner-kicks in quick succession, but Ujfalusi and Jankulovski put crucial challenges to avert the danger. Cech then, made a fantastic save off a power-packed strike from Manchester United winger Ronaldo, who again failed to beat his Premiership opponent in the stoppage time from a free-kick.
The Czechs made early forays into the rival territory into the second period, but failed apply a finish. The Portuguese also had their share of exchanges, and saw their captain Nuno Gomes come up with a meek attempt, which failed to trouble Cech, after a brisk passing move.
Gomes, who had a quiet first period, looked busy as he was away dispossessing David Rozehnal from the right, but the former Newcastle defender, made a quick recovery clearing the ball away for a corner.
Upping the ante, Portugal began to show a bit more adventurous streak approaching the hour-mark, but once again Cech, was not to be beaten as Simao found out with his stiff low shot.
Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals last season for the Red Devils, scuffed his first-time volley from the edge of the area, as the Portuguese camped into the rival territory.
The Czechs meanwhile, came close to scoring from a corner again, as Tomas Ujfalusi’s header went agonisingly wide of the far post with Baros and Sionko unable to meet it.
Portugal launched a swift move that saw Ronaldo putting them in front with a first-time drive from 16 yards, after being set up by a pin-point cross from Deco in the 63rd minute.
The Czechs, with the infusion of positive players in the form of substitutes Jan Koller and Vlcek, looked to get the equaliser as the time ticked by. And they almost managed to do it only for Ricardo to finger-tip Sionko’s header over the cross bar before Pepe came up with an important headed clearance.
Portugal made sure that there was no last minute heart-break as they got their third goal, when Ronaldo unselfishly set substitute Quaresma for a simple tap in into an open goal with Cech drawn out in the stoppage time.
Teams
Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Polak, Galasek (Koller 73), Jankulovski, Sionko, Baros, Matejovsky (Vlcek 68), Plasil (Jarolim 86), Ujfalusi, Rozehnal.
Substitutes not used: Blazek, Zitka, Kovac, Fenin, Sverkos, Pospech, Kadlec, Sivok, Skacel.
Coach: Karel Bruckner.
Portugal: Ricardo, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Petit, Joao Moutinho (Fernando Meira 75), Simao (Quaresma 80), Pepe, Carvalho, Deco, Nuno Gomes (Hugo Almeida 79).
Substitutes not used: Espirito Santo, Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Raul Meireles, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Miguel Veloso, Nani, Helder Postiga.
Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Referee: Kyros Vassaras.
