|
Geneva: Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and set up another Wednesday to help Portugal to a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic at the European Championship.
Ronaldo's 63rd-minute goal, his first for the national team since October, put his team 2-1 up before substitute Ricardo Quaresma rounded off the scoring in injury time.
Portugal moved up to six points and is in a good position to advance from Group A and reach the quarterfinals. The Czechs stayed on three points.
Deco had opened the scoring for Portugal in the eighth, finding the net from close range after an attempted clearance by goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Libor Sionko equalized in the 17th before Ronaldo scored from the edge of the area and Quaresma tapped in from close range.
Ronaldo was also instrumental to Portugal's first goal when he tried to exchange passes with Nuno Gomes. Cech intercepted the return with his leg and redirected it into Deco's path, leaving the diminutive midfielder to force the ball into the net from close range, via a deflection off defender Marek Jankulovski.
It was Portugal's fourth win in 10 matches against the Czechs, with three losses and three draws.
Led by Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Portugal is trying to reach its second consecutive final at the European Championship. It was runner-up to Greece at Euro 2004 at home. It had another successful campaign at the World Cup in Germany two years later, losing to France in the semifinals.
The Czechs, which reached the 2004 semifinals but also lost to Greece, were hoping for a repeat of Euro 96 when they eliminated Portugal 1-0 in the quarterfinals. They eventually lost the final 2-1 to Germany in what was its best showing since winning the 1976 title as part of the Czechoslovakia.
Both teams were coming off wins in their opening matches. Portugal had a convincing 2-0 victory over Turkey in Geneva, while the Czech Republic edged co-host Switzerland 1-0 in Basel.
Portugal controlled possession but had trouble penetrating the Czechs, who had the first attempt on goal in the third, when Sionko's shot from just outside the area was deflected by defender Pepe. Ronaldo has his first attempt moments later, but his right-footed effort was also blocked.
Soon after Deco's goal, Jankulovski came close to scoring with a shot wide. Portugal midfielder Armando Petit also had a chance in the 14th, but Cech stopped his long-range attempt.
Midfielder Sionko equalized with a header from in front of goal, beating Portugal midfielder Armando Petit to the ball off a corner by midfielder Jaroslav Plasil.
|
