Portugal 1-0 England

Toulon Tournament
Stade Scaglia, La Seyne
04 June 2005

A second-half goal from Portuguese striker Cicero edged this tight game to send Portugal into the last four of the Toulon Tournament.

Before the game, both teams knew that a win would be enough to qualify from Group B, while the losers would need victory in the final game on Monday.

Peter Taylor's team we'll be disappointed that they are still uncertain of their passage through, after largely dominating the opening exchanges.

Midway through the first-half, their main avenue of attack looked to have paid off when the ball found itself in the back of the Portugal net.

Exploiting the uncertainty of goalkeeper Christopher, England looked for deep crosses into the box. A dangerous Wayne Routledge corner caught Christopher flapping and the ball dropped awkwardly for the Portuguese before going in off a defender's body.

But the referee saw an infringement somewhere and his whistle spared the 'keeper's blushes.

It was a double blow for the Three Lions a quarter of an hour after the break - remember, these games in Toulon are only 40 minutes each way - when Cicero broke free to score.

The Dinamo Moscow youngster collected a neat ball from Felipe inside the box, and as the England defence waited for the linesman to flag for offside, Cicero dispatched into the corner of Jamie Young's goal to settle the match.

England went all out in search of a deserved equaliser with Colchester United's versatile Greg Halford coming on as substitute to make his international debut adding an aerial option to Peter Taylor's offence. High balls into the box then became the tactic, but they just couldn't force the ball home.

In the end it just wasn't meant to be for the Three Lions and it was summed up in injury time when Ian Henderson, also on as a sub, looked to have a simple finish from six yards.

The Norwich City striker wriggled free inside the area but before he could set to shoot with just Christopher to beat, a last-gasp Portuguese lunge nicked the ball from his feet and the danger was cleared.

Peter Taylor must now rally his troops for the final group game on Monday. Victory over South Korea, who are yet to pick up a point in Toulon this year, would see them join Portugal in the semi finals.

England v Portugal, Toulon Tournament, 04 June 2005

England: Jamie Young - Reading, Steven Taylor - Newcastle United, Peter Whittingham - Aston Villa, Tom Huddlestone - Derby County, Anton Ferdinand - West Ham United, Nigel Reo-Coker - West Ham United, Wayne Routledge - Crystal Palace, John Welsh - Liverpool (Andrew Davies - Middlesbrough, 68), Tom Soares - Crystal Palace (Greg Halford - Colchester United, 40), David Nugent - Preston North End (Ian Henderson - Norwich City, 62), James Milner - Newcastle United
Subs not used: Scott Flinders - Barnsley, Liam Ridgewell - Aston Villa, Liam Rosenior - Fulham, Darren Ambrose - Newcastle United, Scott Wiseman - Hull City, Bradley Wright-Phillips - Manchester City

Goals: Cicero 56