Friday June 25, 2010 Group Stage: Group G Finished Moses Mabhida Stadium

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  1. Portugal through after stalemate

    Portugal through after stalemate

    Portugal joined Brazil in the second round of the World Cup after a hugely disappointing goalless draw in their final Group G encounter. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Portugal
    • Brazil
    • 90+3' Juan gifts the ball to Danny but Julio Cesar is bravely off his line to smother the shot.
    • 90+2' Ronaldo cutting an increasingly forlorn figure.
    • 90+1' Five minutes of added time.
    • 90' Out of nowhere almost a late goal, Josue's shot was going well wide but hits the back of Alvez and Eduardo has to make a vital save to claw the ball away.
    • 89' There are whistles of derision in the crowd.
    • 88' And Portugal will face the winners but second-place might not be too bad depending on tonight's results with Spain, Chile and Switzerland are looking for top spot in Group H.
    • 87' So unless we have a late goal, Brazil will play the runners-up in Group H.
    • 86' Brazil have had 61% of the possession.
    • 85' Brazil win their sixth corner but Lucio's back post header is straight at Eduardo.
    • 84' Luis Fabiano replaced by Grafite.
    • 83' Raul Meireles replaced by Miguel Veloso.
    • 82' Brazil have won their last seven matches in all competitions. They can equal Argentina, who have the best current run of all WC teams with eight straight wins, with a late goal.
    • 81' Julio Baptista replaced by Ramires.
    • 80' Ivory Coast lead 3-0 but surely too little too late.
    • 79' A crunching tackle by Ricardo Carvalho on Julio Baptista. Hard but fair.
    • 78' The last time Portugal failed to score against Brazil came in June 1989.
    • 77' Simao's cross is deflected into the path of Ronaldo but he steers his effort over.
    • 76' Ricardo Costa's cross drifts out of play.
    • 75' Brazil have lost just one of their 32 World Cup first round matches since 1966.
    • 74' The Mexican wave has started which reflects the (lack of) entertainment on the pitch.
    • 73' Oliver Kay of The Times: "It's gone quiet on the Jabulani since the World Cup picked up, but I fancy Nike's Cristiano Ronaldo to have a moan today."
    • 72' Brazil are resigned now to shooting from distance and Dani Alves shoots miles wide.
    • 71' Fabio Coentrao and Ronaldo look to combine in the penalty area but Lucio blocks off the Real Madrid star.
    • 70' 28 years ago West Germany and Austria played one of the dullest matches in World Cup history. It is not quite that bad but getting close. World Cup History - On this day: The shame of Gijon
    • 69' Ronaldo's 30-yard free-kick dips and bends miles wide. No Portguese players running across the flight of the ball.
    • 68' Ronaldo is blocked off by Lucio but no booking.
    • 67' The last time Brazil failed to beat European opposition came in June 2007, when they recorded back-to-back draws against England (1-1) and Turkey (0-0).
    • 66' Wasted cross from Michel Bastos.
    • 65' Still 2-0 in Nelspruit so Portugal's passage into the last 16 looks secure even if they concede in the final 25 minutes. Korea DPR v Ivory Coast: LIVE
    • 64' Pepe is replaced by Pedro Mendes.
    • 63' Raul Meireles would have been better off lifting the ball over the keeper with his left foot.
    • 62' Raul Meireles accidentally stood on Julio Cesar in his follow through and the keeper needs treatment.
    • 61' Raul Meireles spurns Portugal's best chance. Ronaldo breaks and lacks support but Lucio's sliding tackle diverts the ball across the face of goal and the midfielder can only stab wide from six yards with his right foot.
    • 60' Stu: "I was expecting plenty of goals but instead we got plenty of yellow cards! However after looking at it again Juan shod have been sent off, it was deliberate and the last defender."
    • 59' Decent effort from Simao, a diagonal drive from 20 yards which dips and bends but Julio Cesar pats it down.
    • 58' Juan gets his feet all wrong and gives away a needless corner.
    • 57' Dani Alves' cross is behind Luis Fabiano and he does well to even direct a header on target but comfortable for Eduardo.
    • 56' Michel Bastos shoots from a long way out and no problem for Eduardo.
    • 55' Simao was the team's top scorer in qualifying, he is an experienced winger who makes up for his lack of height with speed, dribbling technique, precise passing and crossing. Can be deadly with curling free kicks.
    • 54' Duda is replaced by Simao.
    • 53' Ronaldo's shot flicks off Pepe's heel and it loops just over Julio Cesar's crossbar.
    • 52' Tiago pulls back Dani Alves and Portugal have a free-kick 40 yards out.
    • 51' Match Image Michel Bastos fights for the ball with Portugal's Duda
    • 50' Juan flings himself full length to prevent Ronaldo's cross reaching a team-mate.
    • 49' Brazil have failed to keep a clean sheet against Portugal in all four meetings this century.
    • 48' Bruno Alves meets the corner but his header drops tamely into the arms of Julio Cesar.
    • 47' Julio Cesar hesitates but Lucio makes a crucial sliding tackle to prevent Ronaldo's square pass. Corner for Portugal.
    • 46' The second-half is underway with no further changes to either side.
    • 45+2' HALF-TIME! Something of a spiteful encounter in Durban, goalless at the break.
    • 45+1' Nilmar and Maicon have shots charged down before Portugal break and Ronaldo smashes one wide at the other end.
    • 45' Fabio Coentrao booked for a foul from behind on Dani Alves.
    • 44' And Felipe Melo is taken off to protect himself. On comes Josue.
    • 43' Retribution from Felipe Melo as he bodychecks Pepe and that is a sixth yellow card.
    • 42' This is Brazil’s 95th World Cup match, equalling Germany’s all-time record for most World Cup matches.
    • 41' Ronaldo ended an 11-match scoring drought that started in February 2009 against North Korea, his longest scoring drought for the Portuguese national team.
    • 40' Ronaldo's long-range drive is held by Julio Cesar.
    • 39' Pepe is booked for a kick down the Achilles' heel of Felipe Melo. Nasty.
    • 38' Maicon's high cross is met by Luis Fabiano but he heads wide from seven yards, a very good chance.
    • 37' Ricardo Costa has had a torrid first-half.
    • 36' Lovely piece of skill from Nilmar as he lifts the ball over Ricardo Costa but he volleys high over the ball.
    • 35' Some ill feeling creeping into the game.
    • 34' Eduardo comes out to claim Maicon's chip with Luis Fabiano lurking.
    • 33' Audacious effort from Maicon goes wide. An acute angle but we know he can score from that range.
    • 32' Tiago booked for diving in the penalty area, the slightest contact by Gilberto Silva.
    • 31' Best chance so far, Luis Fabiano's ball is allowed to run through to Nilmar at the back post and his shot is turned on to the post from Eduardo at close range.
    • 30' Raul Meireles heads clear.
    • 29' Dani Alves on the overlap but the covering Pepe ensures it is just a corner for Brazil, their fourth.
    • 28' Portugal is third on the FIFA world ranking and Brazil top that list but the game is currently not living up to the billing.
    • 27' Ronaldo's long-range free-kick sails a long way over the crossbar.
    • 26' A posse of Portugal players chased the referee, demanding red and Duda is booked for waving the imaginary card.
    • 25' Deliberate handball by Juan to prevent a long ball reaching Ronaldo and he is booked.
    • 24' The corner drops to Michel Bastos but his volley hits Tiago.
    • 23' Luis Fabiano's shot on the turn is deflected by Bruno Alves for a corner.
    • 22' Lucio's optimistic 35-yard shot is charged down.
    • 21' Tiago's slides in two-footed on Lucio but escapes a booking.
    • 20' 2-0 to Sven Goran Eriksson's side now, they now trail Portugal by seven on goal difference.
    • 19' Since Carlos Queiroz has been in charge, Portugal have kept 19 clean sheets in 23 matches.
    • 18' Gilberto Silva's long-range effort hits his own player, Luis Fabiano.
    • 17' Raul Meireles picks out Tiago who cuts across his 20-yard volley and slices it wide.
    • 16' An easy save for Eduardo from Dani Alves.
    • 15' Luis Fabiano is booked for a foul on Pepe which the Portuguese makes the most of.
    • 14' Ronaldo's shot is charged down by Juan.
    • 13' A great run from Fabio Coentrao down the left and Julio Cesar punches his cross clear.
    • 12' In the other game in Nelspruit, the Ivory Coast have taken the lead but they need a few more goals and Brazil to score. Korea DPR v Ivory Coast: LIVE
    • 11' Portugal are on an 18-match unbeaten streak. Their record is 19, set between March 2005 and July 2006.
    • 10' Julio Baptista's deep cross aimed for Nilmar at the back post drifts out of play.
    • 9' Ricardo Costa is Portugal's third different right-back in as many games.
    • 8' Nilmar tries to get behind Ricardo Costa at the back post but can't direct his header on target.
    • 7' Brazil have won their last eight matches against European opposition, keeping seven clean sheets, a run that started in February 2008.
    • 6' Dani Alves is afforded time to shoot but his 25-yard effort whistles wide.
    • 5' Portugal have Duda playing in front of Fabio Coentrao on the left-hand side with Pepe playing the anchor role in midfield.
    • 4' Nothing materialises for Brazil.
    • 3' Nilmar's cross comes off Ricardo Costa and it's a second Brazil corner.
    • 2' And Brazil force an immediate corner.
    • 1' And we are underway, the crowd a sea of colour!
    • 14:55 The teams are out at the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the anthems.
    • 14:50 Today's referee is Benito Archundia of Mexico. Ramires, Ronaldo, Almeida and Mendes will be suspended if booked, only the Real Madrid star out of that quartet starts.
    • 14:45 Portugal’s last win over Brazil came in February 2007 in a friendly in London with goals scored by Simão and Ricardo Carvalho.
    • 14:40 Their last encounter was a friendly in November 2008, which saw Brazil win 6-2 through a Luis Fabiano hat-trick. Maicon, Elano and Adriano also scored for Brazil. The Portugal goals were netted by Danny and Simão.
    • 14:35 Their only World Cup encounter came 44 years ago on July 19 1966 when Portugal beat Brazil 3-1 in their last group match through goals by Simôes and Eusébio (2). Rildo scored for Brazil.
    • 14:30 Portugal have played Brazil 18 times, winning four and losing 12.
    • 14:25 Cristiano Ronaldo looks likely to play in a central role in a defensive looking Portugal team. Portugal need a point to reach round two but if they lose, Ivory Coast still need to win with a nine goal swing on goal difference.
    • 14:20 Portugal, needing a point to make absolutely sure of a place in the last 16, made three changes from the team that thrashed North Korea 7-0 in their last group match. Defenders Duda and Ricardo Costa were brought into the starting eleven along with forward Danny, replacing Pedro Mendes, Hugo Almeida and Simao Sabrosa.
    • 14:15 Robinho has been one of Brazil's liveliest players so far and there have been no suggestions he is injured. Playmaker Kaka, suspended after being sent off in the 3-1 win over Ivory Coast on Sunday, was replaced by Julio Baptista as expected while Dani Alves replaces the injured Elano on the right of midfield.
    • 14:10 Brazil forward Robinho was surprisingly left out of the starting line-up. Nilmar has taken Robinho's place alongside Luis Fabiano in attack for the five-times champions, who have already qualified for the second round and need a draw to make sure of top spot.
    • 14:05 Teams - Portugal: 1-Eduardo; 2-Bruno Alves, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 15-Pepe, 23-Fabio Coentrao, 21-Ricardo Costa, 16-Raul Meireles, 19-Tiago, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 5-Duda, 10-Danny. /// Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio, 4-Juan, 6-Michel Bastos, 5-Felipe Melo, 8-Gilberto Silva, 13-Dani Alves, 21-Nilmar, 19-Julio Baptista, 9-Luis Fabiano.
    • 14:00 Brazil meet Portugal in a mouth-watering finale to World Cup Group G in Durban.

  • Summary

    • 90+3' Juan gifts the ball to Danny but Julio Cesar is bravely off his line to smother the shot.
    • 90' Out of nowhere almost a late goal, Josue's shot was going well wide but hits the back of Alvez and Eduardo has to make a vital save to claw the ball away.
    • 61' Raul Meireles spurns Portugal's best chance. Ronaldo breaks and lacks support but Lucio's sliding tackle diverts the ball across the face of goal and the midfielder can only stab wide from six yards with his right foot.
    • 53' Ronaldo's shot flicks off Pepe's heel and it loops just over Julio Cesar's crossbar.
    • 38' Maicon's high cross is met by Luis Fabiano but he heads wide from seven yards, a very good chance.
    • 31' Best chance so far, Luis Fabiano's ball is allowed to run through to Nilmar at the back post and his shot is turned on to the post from Eduardo at close range.
    • 17' Raul Meireles picks out Tiago who cuts across his 20-yard volley and slices it wide.
    • 6' Dani Alves is afforded time to shoot but his 25-yard effort whistles wide.
    • 14:05 Teams - Portugal: 1-Eduardo; 2-Bruno Alves, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 15-Pepe, 23-Fabio Coentrao, 21-Ricardo Costa, 16-Raul Meireles, 19-Tiago, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 5-Duda, 10-Danny. /// Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio, 4-Juan, 6-Michel Bastos, 5-Felipe Melo, 8-Gilberto Silva, 13-Dani Alves, 21-Nilmar, 19-Julio Baptista, 9-Luis Fabiano.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • Eduardo
      • Ricardo Costa
      • R. Carvalho
      • Bruno Alves
      • F. Coentrão Yellow Card
      • Pepe Yellow Card Substitution Out (64′)
      • Tiago Yellow Card
      • Raul Meireles Substitution Out (84′)
      • Danny
      • Duda Yellow Card Substitution Out (54′)
      • Cristiano Ronaldo

      Subs

      • Paulo Ferreira
      • H. Almeida
      • M. Veloso Substitution In84′
      • D. Fernandes
      • Beto
      • Simão Substitution In54′
      • Deco
      • Miguel
      • P. Mendes Substitution In64′
      • Liedson
      • Ruben Amorim
      • Rolando

    • Starting line-up

      • Júlio César
      • Maicon
      • Lúcio
      • Juan Yellow Card
      • M. Bastos
      • G. Silva
      • F. Melo Yellow Card Substitution Out (44′)
      • Dani Alves
      • J. Baptista Substitution Out (82′)
      • Nilmar
      • L. Fabiano Yellow Card Substitution Out (85′)

      Subs

      • Thiago Silva
      • Gilberto Melo
      • Kléberson
      • Luisão
      • Gomes
      • Robinho
      • Elano
      • Grafite Substitution In85′
      • Josué Substitution In44′
      • Doni
      • Ramires Substitution In82′

  • Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
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      Defenders
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      Yellow Card - -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out64′ - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Substitution Out84′ - -
      Strikers
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      Yellow Card Substitution Out54′ - -
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      Subs
      Substitution In84′ - -
      Substitution In54′ - -
      Substitution In64′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
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      Yellow Card - -
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      Midfielders
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      Yellow Card Substitution Out44′ - -
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      Substitution Out82′ - -
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      Strikers
      Yellow Card Substitution Out85′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In85′ - -
      Substitution In44′ - -
      Substitution In82′ - -

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