Portugal cemented their place as Group D winners with a 2-1 win over a ten men Mexico side who also scraped through.
The win means that Portugal set up a clash with either Argentina or Holland who face off later in a bid to finish top of Group C. For Mexico it means a slightly tougher task as they will face the group winners in the second round.
The game was an entertaining one as Portugal took an early lead through Maniche after an excellent piece of set up play by Simoa. The Benfica star was also able to claim a place on the score sheet with a well taken penalty before Jose Fonseca reduced their lead.
It was a tail of woe in the second period for Mexico who missed several chances to equalize and were reduced to ten men when Luis Perez was red carded.
Eager to build for the second round Portugal’s changes to their starting lineup were minimal despite their qualification due to Mexico’s slip up against Angola. Caneira came into the defense with Simao and Postiga starting for the first time in the tournament. Mexico who needed a win to be sure of qualification started with the same side which had played their previous two group games.
The drama in Gelsenkirchen started early as Portugal took the lead through Maniche after five minutes. Good play from Figo and Simao saw the ball laid across the box for Maniche to strike an outside of the foot shot into the net before Sanchez could even more.
The goal was deserving for the scorers because of their rapid start and creative play but it was slack marking from Mexico which allowed Maniche all the space he wanted to find the opening goal of the game.
Mexico almost reduced their arrears immediately as Bravo made his way onto an excellent cross from the right hand side. The timing of his jump was off however and good marking from Carvalho prevented the striker from getting any purchase on the ball or at least enough to trouble the keeper.
It was Portugal however who scored next as Simao converted a crazily given penalty after an inexplicable handball from Rafael Marquez. The experienced defender was clearly under pressure from a Portuguese header but the way in which the penalty was given was unnecessary. Simao converted the Portuguese’s second penalty of the tournament and gave them a comfortable lead after only twenty minutes.
The deficit was nearly reduced almost instantly as Ricardo made an incredible save from Bravo’s close range volley. After the ball came over from the left the ball was missed by all but Bravo who was there to strike a half volley towards goal, sadly for Mexico Ricardo was equal to the shot and also gave away a corner rather than the ball rebounding into the net or to an onrushing player.
From the resulting corner however Mexico found a way back into the game through a header from Fonseca. Bravo’s ball was just perfect and Fonseca’s leap was impeccably timed to steer the ball back into the net and the game back towards Mexico who now looked ascendant despite their bad start.
On half time they nearly made it 2-2 but Pardo’s well driven shot was saved by a diving Ricardo and cleared by Miera. The swerving drive was enough to test the Portuguese keeper who was keeping his side in the game somewhat.
The introduction of Ronaldo was not enough to send the momentum back to Portugal and it was instead Mexico who took the advantage after half time. A penalty won after Miguel’s handball was poorly taken by Bravo and ended up in the stand instead of the back of the net. His kick had power and sent the keeper the wrong way but it was not at all accurate.
As the game ebbed away, Mexico were reduced to ten men as Perez became the umpteenth player in the tournament to be booked for diving. His dramatic fall was only enough to convince the referee to give him a yellow card and in ended up being a decisive factor as Mexico had little to offer with ten men for the remaining minutes.
The win means that Portugal set up a clash with either Argentina or Holland who face off later in a bid to finish top of Group C. For Mexico it means a slightly tougher task as they will face the group winners in the second round.
The game was an entertaining one as Portugal took an early lead through Maniche after an excellent piece of set up play by Simoa. The Benfica star was also able to claim a place on the score sheet with a well taken penalty before Jose Fonseca reduced their lead.
It was a tail of woe in the second period for Mexico who missed several chances to equalize and were reduced to ten men when Luis Perez was red carded.
Eager to build for the second round Portugal’s changes to their starting lineup were minimal despite their qualification due to Mexico’s slip up against Angola. Caneira came into the defense with Simao and Postiga starting for the first time in the tournament. Mexico who needed a win to be sure of qualification started with the same side which had played their previous two group games.
The drama in Gelsenkirchen started early as Portugal took the lead through Maniche after five minutes. Good play from Figo and Simao saw the ball laid across the box for Maniche to strike an outside of the foot shot into the net before Sanchez could even more.
The goal was deserving for the scorers because of their rapid start and creative play but it was slack marking from Mexico which allowed Maniche all the space he wanted to find the opening goal of the game.
Mexico almost reduced their arrears immediately as Bravo made his way onto an excellent cross from the right hand side. The timing of his jump was off however and good marking from Carvalho prevented the striker from getting any purchase on the ball or at least enough to trouble the keeper.
It was Portugal however who scored next as Simao converted a crazily given penalty after an inexplicable handball from Rafael Marquez. The experienced defender was clearly under pressure from a Portuguese header but the way in which the penalty was given was unnecessary. Simao converted the Portuguese’s second penalty of the tournament and gave them a comfortable lead after only twenty minutes.
The deficit was nearly reduced almost instantly as Ricardo made an incredible save from Bravo’s close range volley. After the ball came over from the left the ball was missed by all but Bravo who was there to strike a half volley towards goal, sadly for Mexico Ricardo was equal to the shot and also gave away a corner rather than the ball rebounding into the net or to an onrushing player.
From the resulting corner however Mexico found a way back into the game through a header from Fonseca. Bravo’s ball was just perfect and Fonseca’s leap was impeccably timed to steer the ball back into the net and the game back towards Mexico who now looked ascendant despite their bad start.
On half time they nearly made it 2-2 but Pardo’s well driven shot was saved by a diving Ricardo and cleared by Miera. The swerving drive was enough to test the Portuguese keeper who was keeping his side in the game somewhat.
The introduction of Ronaldo was not enough to send the momentum back to Portugal and it was instead Mexico who took the advantage after half time. A penalty won after Miguel’s handball was poorly taken by Bravo and ended up in the stand instead of the back of the net. His kick had power and sent the keeper the wrong way but it was not at all accurate.
As the game ebbed away, Mexico were reduced to ten men as Perez became the umpteenth player in the tournament to be booked for diving. His dramatic fall was only enough to convince the referee to give him a yellow card and in ended up being a decisive factor as Mexico had little to offer with ten men for the remaining minutes.