Euro 2008 - Slick Portugal put paid to Turkey

Eurosport - Sun, 08 Jun 12:16:00 2008

Well-crafted second-half goals from Pepe and Raul Meireles earned Portugal a 2-0 victory over Turkey in their opening Euro 2008 match at the Stade de Geneve in Geneva.

FOOTBALL 2008 Euro 2008 Portugal-Turkey. Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Real Madrid centre-half Pepe had a goal ruled out for offside after a quarter of an hour, while Cristiano Ronaldo hit a free-kick against the post shortly before half-time.

Nuno Gomes struck the woodwork minutes before Pepe's opener midway through the second period, and did so again moments after, before substitute Meireles rounded Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel in injury time to seal the victory and claim top spot in Group A for the Portuguese.

Portugal began the game strongly and saw plenty of the ball, with a rather pathetic dive by Tuncay Sanli the only attacking intervention of note from Turkey in the game's opening exchanges.

Pepe thought he had given Portugal the lead when he headed Simao Sabrosa's left-wing cross past Volkan after 17 minutes, but the linesman's flag was correctly raised.

Having been quiet to begin with, man-of-the-moment Ronaldo gave a cameo of his talents on the half-hour mark when he ghosted past three opposition players before dragging a shot wide of the left-hand upright.

Moments later he went even closer with a skidding free-kick from wide on the left that was brilliantly tipped onto the far post by Volkan.

Portugal upped their attacking efforts in the closing minutes of the first period, with Mehmet Aurelio almost flicking Simao's inswinging corner past his own goalkeeper and Joao Moutinho having a shot brilliantly diverted over the crossbar by Gokhan Zan.

The woodwork came to Turkey's rescue again after five minutes of the second half when Nuno Gomes steered a shot against the post from the edge of the box before Ronaldo skipped away from Hamit Altintop on the Portugal left and drew a save from Volkan with a curling effort towards the bottom-right corner.

Turkey were finding it difficult to get out of their half, and minutes later Portugal broke the deadlock in style when Pepe burst forward from the back and exchanged passes with Nuno Gomes before dinking the ball past Volkan via a slight deflection off Turkey substitute Emre Asik.

A header against the crossbar from Nuno Gomes saw Portugal strike the woodwork for the third time in the match, before Emre Asik put a free header wide of Ricardo's goal from a right-wing corner.

Injury time was extended to four minutes after Aurelio caught Portugal substitute Nani with a dangerous high challenge, and Luiz Felipe Scolari's men took full advantage, with Meireles stepping past Volkan and slotting home after being brilliantly set up by Moutinho.

Tom Williams / Eurosport

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  1. could have sworn this was gonna be about football... but now i have ladies who want my services - come on "Linder and Kirsten" - if i'm skint does that mean i've no chance LOL.
    However
    The tackle on nani was abominable - and i dont even like man u!

    From djacko2005, on Sun 8 Jun 9:36AM

  2. en byuk TURKIYE bu macta yenılmek hıc bısey ıfade etmıyor 70 mılyon mıllılErın arkasında sonuna kadar tek yurek sonuna kadar TURKIYE

    From yldzysm, on Sun 8 Jun 8:33AM

  3. Shouldn't someone 'shoot' Linder?

    From Balkan Pete, on Sun 8 Jun 5:20AM

  4. beatiful won by portugal!!!!!!!

    From chng, on Sun 8 Jun 4:13AM

  5. beatiful won by portugal!!!!!!!

    From chng, on Sun 8 Jun 4:13AM

  6. I did try to send him a wink there. lol

    From Jacky, on Sun 8 Jun 4:13AM

  7. hey ronaldo is up 2 his old tricks again divein putting the 2008 championship 2 shame would be the best player in the world apart from the diving. never mind torres for the golden boot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From williamsroberts460, on Sun 8 Jun 2:59AM

  8. Bravo selecao ...
    I believe You Can

    From retno_setyo_wulan, on Sun 8 Jun 2:55AM

  9. viva las vegas

    From phylokan, on Sun 8 Jun 2:44AM

  10. biz bu kupada estiricez lan kimse bakmasın bugünkü maglubiyete.EN BÜYÜK TÜRKİYE

    From hakanhk, on Sun 8 Jun 2:16AM

  11. Why didn't quaresma play?

    From chisomagada, on Sun 8 Jun 1:20AM

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    From Rosa S, on Sun 8 Jun 1:18AM

  13. viva portugal keep going from rio

    From riosilverio, on Sat 7 Jun 11:56PM

  14. viva portugal you are the winer this moment,because you have best player like c ronaldo keep going ha ha..............

    From riosilverio, on Sat 7 Jun 11:53PM

  15. Ronaldo should have done a lot better than what he did today. I seriously expected a better game from him! He was getting shut-out by the defenders and the goalie stopped his shots. Although he deserves a pat on the back for that killer free kick!

    From Aakash, on Sat 7 Jun 11:49PM

  16. Portugal palyed a excellent game, Switzerland where unlucky, the ref. was blind.!!!

    From JAIME A, on Sat 7 Jun 11:45PM

  17. VIVA PORTUGAL..!!!-What a slick,Game,full of tintillating moments!-However,the Goals scored,didnnt reflect the sheer "Mastey" of Portugal's Brilliant Attacking Power!-It should have been a 5-0..Result!Well they are very Defenite contenders for the Euro2008.Championship !!!-Ole,Ole,Ole...!

    From Dean_ManU, on Sat 7 Jun 11:32PM

  18. @#$% on Portugal!! well done for a wonderful game... we deserve to win!! lets hope we carry on achievin well results!!
    ole ole ole!!!
    FORCA PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!

    From linda.freitas, on Sat 7 Jun 11:08PM

  19. look who scores, the beste center-back in the world. pepe has speed, tecnic, his calm with the ball and he owns everyone on the head. he makes the best stopper pair in the world alongside ricardo carvalho. portugal's best team
    ricardo-miguel,pepe,carvalho,ferreira-quaresma,deco,velos o,mouthino,nani-ronaldo

    From beatebraaten, on Sat 7 Jun 11:07PM

  20. POLEN - DEUTCHLAND 1410 -0 !!!!!!!!!!

    From gordi.gordi, on Sat 7 Jun 10:47PM
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