Hosts eliminate Spain

A 57th-minute strike from substitute Nuno Gomes eased the worries of a nation as Portugal, the UEFA EURO 2004™ hosts, advanced to the knockout stages of the competition at the expense of their Iberian rivals, Spain.

Long wait
The significance of the occasion where Portugal needed a win and Spain only a draw denied the fans a truly wonderful derby, but Gomes' goal finally ended a 23-year wait for the Portuguese to put one over their old adversaries. Portugal advance to the last eight as group winners, while Greece finish second in Group A with Spain eliminated in third.

Key switch
The only goal came at a moment when Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was desperately trying to shuffle his attacking options as his side struggled to breach a stubborn Spanish defence which has been equal to everything Portugal threw at them. With Nuno Gomes introduced for Pauleta at the interval, the switch paid instant dividends as Luís Figo found the substitute, who unleashed a right-footed shot from 18 metres that beat Iker Casillas low to his right.

Ronaldo start
Scolari made only one change to the side that defeated Russia 2-0 as Cristiano Ronaldo's impressive performance after his introduction in that game was rewarded with his inclusion in the starting lineup, only the second time he had started a match for his country. Simão Sabrosa dropped to the bench.

Sáez changes
Spain coach Iñaki Sáez was forced into making two changes due to injury and suspension to Joseba Etxeberria and Carlos Marchena respectively. Juanito Gutiérrez and Joaquín Sánchez came into the team, with Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso also starting.

Tense opening
With Deco marshalling the midfield and Luís Figo and Ronaldo periodically changing flanks, Portugal had the upper hand in the early exchanges. However, some poor deliveries ensured Iker Casillas' goal was rarely threatened in a tense opening 15 minutes where Pauleta and David Albelda were both cautioned. The former’s booking ruling him out of the quarter-final match.

Match ignites
Spain offered little in attack until Vicente Rodríguez's low left-wing centre eluded Raúl González inside the Portuguese penalty area. Almost immediately, Ronaldo's low ball in at the other end forced Iván Helguera into a hurried clearance with Pauleta lurking menacingly. Deco then had a snap-shot from 12 metres blocked.

Casillas called upon
Miguel then ventured forward to force the first save of the game with Casillas diving to his left to palm away. Again Spain responded, but Ricardo was quickly off his line to deny Torres outside his penalty area. Spain came close once more after 34 minutes, but Raúl failed to control Vicente's cross and Nuno Valente and Ricardo combined to clear.

Headed opportunities
Then on the stroke of half-time both sides spurned gilt-edged opportunities. First Torres nodded Xabi Alonso's corner over when unmarked in front of goal and then Ronaldo headed wide from Figo's left-wing cross.

Spanish urgency
Jorge Andrade had to make up ground to cut out Vicente's left-wing cross early in the second half as Raúl threatened, before Maniche tried his luck from long range and missed the target. But Nuno Gomes' goal caused more urgency in Spain's play, and Torres thumped the ball against the post in the 62nd minute when he latched onto Xabi Alonso's through-ball as the hosts were forced to defend desperately.

Juanito denied
Ricardo Carvalho had to be alert to the danger posed by Vicente's lob as he cleared when Ricardo was stranded. From the resulting corner, Juanito headed on to the crossbar with a looping effort before an effort from Vicente went wide. Torres then saw his header sail narrowly wide.

Maniche misses
But Portugal squandered the best opportunities of all when Costinha headed Nuno Valente's cross over with only Casillas to beat two minutes from time. Then Maniche had his shot cleared off the line by Raúl Bravo after he latched onto Nuno Gomes' wonderful through-ball as the home side finished the game and their group on top.

Goals: Nuno Gomes 57