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  • Kick-off: 17:00
  • Venue: Stade de Geneve, Geneva
  • Attendance: 30000
  • Referee: Vassaras, K

Live Commentary

90mins

No time for a comeback from Czech Republic who battled hard and well but were ultimately outplayed and it is Portugal who progress out of Group A after two games

90mins

CZECH REPUBLIC 1 - 3 PORTUGAL: Easy goal for QUARESMA to win this match for Portugal. Ronaldo's run beat the offside trap and he found himself 30 yards clear of the back line. He unselfishly played the ball to Quaresma who finished well

90mins

A strike from Sionko flies over the bar under pressure from Boswinga. Good work and cross from Baros on the right

89mins

More havoc in the Portugal box as Ricardo weakly punched away another dangerous free-kick that was won on the Czech right wing

88mins

A good break by Quaresma on the right but is shot misses the near-side post

87mins

Czech Republic are looking more and more dangerous down the right flank but Jarolim's run is halted when Pepe falls easily under as he tried to block the Czech forward

85mins

David Jarolim is on for Plasil, a like-for-like sub but perhaps some fresh legs could help the Czechs

83mins

Brilliant cross from Vlsek found Sionko in the centre of the Portugal box but his powerful header is tipped over by Ricardo. Acres of space for the Czech forward there and he should have found the net

83mins

The Czechs are running out of time here and haven't threatened in the last few minutes

81mins

A knock-down from Koller is volleyed well over by Plasil but that is the way Koller needs to be used by the Czechs

80mins

Ricardo Quaresma, an exciting winger, replaces Simao down the right wing

79mins

Hugo Almeida is on for Nuno Gomes, a straight swap in attack

78mins

Plasil's cross is headed well wide by Baros who would have been better off leaving the ball for Plasil who was shaping to shoot

77mins

Simao tells Deco he is the man to take it but, as the Barcelona midfielder walks off in anger, Simao hits the set-piece straight into the wall. Deco is not very happy

76mins

A shooting chance for Portugal as Deco is fouled just outside the Czech penalty area

75mins

Jose Fernando Meira is on for Moutinho as Portugal respond to that attacking sub with a defensive one of their own

73mins

Jan Koller is on for Tomas Galasek - the defensive midfielder. That's a very attacking sub but it will give Baros a partner in attack

72mins

The game has stopped as Petit is carried off on a stretcher. He's jumped off it though and looks likely to come straight back on the pitch

70mins

A deep Grygera cross causes havoc in the Portugal box as Plasil headed the ball back across goal where the Portuguese defence hacked at the ball and eventually scrambled it clear

69mins

Another Jankulovski free-kick is well caught by Ricardo, who has looked generally shaky today

68mins

Stanislav Vlcek on for Matejovsky as the Czechs look to shake up their midfield

66mins

Jankulovski's free-kick was dangerous and beat Ricardo whose flap left Grygera with an open goal but he was closed down and Portugal scramble the ball clear

65mins

Portugal have been the more threatening side this half and just about earned that goal, although Czech Republic are far from done

63mins

CZECH REPUBLIC 1 - 2 PORTUGAL: RONALDO nets for Portugal as they re-take the lead. Deco played a low pass along the edge of the box and the Man Utd man struck the ball first time and beat Cech for pace

62mins

Plasil's corner was headed down by Ujfalusi at the near post but his effort flew wide of the far post

61mins

Sionko wins a corner off Ricardo Carvalho as this game begins to fully open up

59mins

More space for Simao, who beat Jankulovski but not Tomas Ujfalusi who forced him to rush a cross and Cech dealt with the danger. Moments later Ronaldo found himself in space but his half-volley was miss-hit

58mins

Good chance for Simao, who again found himself free of the Czech defence and had a free shot at goal, but it was straight at Cech and the ball was easily parried away

57mins

Czech Republic win a free-kick in the Portugal half, a rare moment of respite after the last five minutes of Portuguese dominance, but they failed to produce any danger

55mins

Mistake from David Rozehnal let Gomes go through on goal but he was pushed wide and eventually the former Newcastle United defender recovered and tackled the striker

53mins

Gomes finally gets a chance as he spins on a pass played to his feet just outside the box, moving past his marker and finding just Cech to beat, but his shot is straight at the goalie

52mins

Portugal have taken control of this half early on, with Deco, Moutinho and Ronaldo playing the ball around well without any penetration as of yet

50mins

Portugal with another spell of possession inside the Czech half. Ferreira ends it with a cross that is headed behind before a corner

48mins

Fantastic football from Sionko and Marek Matejovsky down the right allowed Sionko to hit a low cross from the by-line that was scrambled behind for a corner. Baros was close to putting the finishing touch to that move

47mins

All the early possession is Portugal's as they play the ball patiently around the edge of the Czech box before Ronaldo is well tackled and the ball is cleared

46mins

The second half begins with both sides unchanged and all to play for here in Geneva

45mins

It was taken well by Ronaldo who forced a low save from Cech but it was too close to the keeper and he holds on well. Good, well-paced first half of football

45mins

Deco wins a free-kick 25 yards out in a quite central position. Last chance of the half here

44mins

Ronaldo's run is well stopped before the winger drops to the floor holding his face. Little contact made though. Ferriera did suffer a clash of heads moments later though and the ball is kicked out

42mins

Good hit from Ronaldo forces a save from Cech and then Bosingwa's dangerous cross is well caught by the Chelsea stopper. Excellent spell from Portugal here

41mins

Ferriera wins a corner down the left which Simao and Deco work together before a second corner is won and Deco's cross finds Ronaldo but he can't control the ball

39mins

Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho link up well but Moutinho's cross is picked out of the air by Cech

37mins

Sionko almost beat Ferreira down the right side but the Chelsea defender won the battle. Czech Republic come back through Baros who wins a free-kick that is wasted and cleared

35mins

Excellent cross from Paulo Ferreira which just evades Nuno Gomes but then Czech Republic counter-attack with Baros turning the defence inside and out before his cross is headed away

33mins

Portugal attack with Ronaldo down the left but he is well tackled by Grygera. Not seen much of the Manchester United star yet and Gyrgera is the main reason why

31mins

BOSINGWA is given the yellow card for a late tackle as he tried to stop the Czechs from breaking out of defence

29mins

Another corner causes problems in the Portuguese box and again Sionko found himself on the end of the cross. This time he hit the ball back into the danger area in front of goal and Pepe managed to clear

28mins

Excellent pressure from Czech Republic as they press Portugal back into their half. Baros is getting some support in his end of the pitch now and they look all the more dangerous for it

26mins

The Czechs will be more than happy to allow these long-range efforts and will be pleased that they are not allowing Portugal the time to play balls into the area

25mins

Ronaldo shoots from a similar position but his effort is a little scuffed and it is caught low by Cech

24mins

20-yard shot from Deco, a well hit effort that beats Cech but goes over the bar. Good dribbling in the build-up though

23mins

POLAK is booked for a two-footed tackle on Pepe, although he did get some of the ball

22mins

Good pressure from Czech Republic with Jankulovski down the left swinging in a cross that Pepe heads clear

20mins

Another long-range shot from Petit which goes well wide this time

19mins

Portugal will be stunned by that quick reply from the Czechs who hadn't forced a save from Ricardo before he was beaten for the goal

17mins

CZECH REPUBLIC 1 - 1 PORTUGAL: Equaliser for Czech Republic! SIONKO, who did so well to win the corner, flung his head at the cross and beat Ricardo

16mins

Sionko nutmegged Pepe and played in an excellent low cross but Portugal clear the ball out for a corner

16mins

A headed chance from Baros at the other end misses the target as the Czechs broke out

15mins

A wicked, low, swerving shot from Armando Petit, hit from 25 yards, is well stopped and held by Cech

13mins

Czech Republic aren't looking bad in midfield but Baros continues to struggle as the lone striker, as Sionko and Jan Polak are being kept occupied but the Portuguese attackers

11mins

The Czechs are struggling to halt their opponents on either flank as Simao and Boswingwa combine on the right before Jankulovski gets the ball clear

9mins

Jankulovski miss-hit a sharp one-two inside the Portugal box to waste a decent chance for the Czechs as they look to quickly get back into this match

8mins

CZECH REPUBLIC 0 - 1 PORTUGAL: DECO opens the scoring for Portugal with the scrappiest of goals, tackling Petr Cech and scuffing in a shot that hit Marek Jankulovski on the line

7mins

Ronaldo picked up speed down the left flank and beat Zdenek Grygera before Sionko stopped him

6mins

Ronaldo and Deco are both afforded time on the ball in midfield but neither can make use of the possession

4mins

Libor Sionko cut in well from the right flank and hit a strong drive towards goal but Kepler Pepe got himself in the way and cleared

3mins

The Czechs continue to fire long balls at the Portuguese defence - perhaps they are forgetting that man-mountain Jan Koller is on the bench?

2mins

An early foul committed by Milan Baros gives Portugal the chance to create an attack but Jan Polak wins the battle with Deco

1mins

Czech Republic kick the game off, playing the ball back to Marek Jankulovski whose long pass is cleared by Jose Bosingwa

0mins

We could be in for an open, attacking game today with both sides naming a lone striker flanked by two attacking wide men. Portugal have the more aggressive wingers in Ronaldo and Sabrosa Simao, so look for the Czechs to go forward on the break

0mins

Two changes for the Czech Republic, with two English-based players getting starting roles. Marek Matejovsky of Reading plays ahead of David Jarolim in centre midfield, while Portsmouth's Milan Baros heads the attack instead of Jan Koller

0mins

The 2004 European Championship finalists field an unchanged side but they will look to get more out of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was quiet on Saturday as Deco bossed the game

0mins

Portugal, unbeaten in their last 12 competitive matches, will be the favourites today. They beat Turkey 2-0 in the opening match without really getting into third gear, while the Czechs scraped past Switzerland thanks to Vaclav Sverkos' goal

0mins

The first match of Round Two of the 2008 European Championship is set to begin in around 30 minutes, with the top two from Group A clashing in Geneva

Match Report

Portugal continued to impress at Euro 2008 as they got the better of the Czech Republic in a fast-paced Group A match, edging towards the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win.

Neither side had gained any momentum before Portugal broke the deadlock after eight minutes had been played.

Deco and Cristiano Ronaldo had already been given too much space in midfield and it was through a combination of the two that the first goal came about.

Ronaldo's run on goal was halted when Petr Cech rushed out and clawed the ball away, but it fell into the path of Deco who struggled to avoid a desperate dive from Cech and mis-hit a shot that deflected off Marek Jankulovski on the line and rolled into the net.

Portugal looked content to hold their lead but, despite no previous attacking intent, the Czech Republic drew level just nine minutes later.

Libor Sionko, outstanding down the right and later on through the middle, nutmegged defender Pepe before winning a corner from which the equaliser came.

Having already shown skill and composure on the ball, Sionko demonstrated his aerial ability by throwing himself at the corner and powering a header past Ricardo.

Portugal were reduced to long-range efforts for much of the rest of the first half, but, despite good intentions from the Czechs, a second goal never looked likely.

Instead it was Portugal who ended the half well and came out in the second period full of energy and invention.

Nuno Gomes wasted a good chance in the 53rd minute, shooting straight at Cech after he had spun away from the last defender, while a mistake from David Rozehnal allowed him another chance two minutes later, but again he failed to beat the Chelsea keeper.

Ten minute later Portugal were ahead again. Deco attacked down the right side and laid the ball off to Ronaldo on the edge of the area and the Manchester United star fired low past Cech for his first goal of the tournament.

Chances came the Czech Republic's way in the remaining half-hour, but only a Sionko header in the 83rd minute forced Ricardo to make a save, tipping over when Sionko had enough time and space to pick his spot.

By the time Ricardo Quaresma scored the third - the young Porto winger had been given the goal by Ronaldo who beat the offside trap and chose to pass when he had only Cech to beat - the Czechs were looking tired.

For them a nail-biting, must-win match with Turkey awaits, while Portugal will only need to draw with Switzerland on Sunday to win the group.

Czech Republic

Portugal

Corners

66

Fouls

1616

Goal attempts

915

Shots off target

74

Offsides

03

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