Euro 2000 quarter final - Portugal 2 Turkey 0

Two goals from Nuno Gomes saw Portugal beat ten man Turkey in Amsterdam to reach the semi finals of the European Championships for the first time since 1984.

Turkey captain Alpay was red carded in the 32nd minute for throwing a punch at Portuguese central defender Fernando Couto and from that point Portugal used their man advantage to dominate the game with their slick passing style carving out great chances to score.

Alpay seemed to hit Couto in the chest with a closed fist after Couto came over the top of the Turk to head away a cross. The two tangled on the ground and Couto fell backwards clutching his face. Another Portuguese defender involved in the melee may have actually hit Couto in the face with his foot but Alpay definitely raised his hand and with his instant dismissal Turkey lost all hope of reaching the last four at Euro 2000.

Portugal had created the best chance of the game to that point with Constinha seeing a Figo corner drop to him at the far post but the AS Monaco midfielder saw his snap shot well saved by a diving Rustu Recber.

Rustu then went down for lengthy treatment and did not look happy after taking a 10th minute kick in the ribs while collecting a corner.

Turkey had been content to play on the break until the loss of Alpay and they did not reorganise well.

Nuno Gomes was unmarked in the 44th minute to put Portugal into the lead as he stopped to meet a bouncing cross angled into the area from the right hand side by Luis Figo but five minutes of injury time added on mainly for the injury to Rustu saw Turkey awarded a 50th minute penalty.

Arif was felled on a run by Coutu but he struck his penalty kick straight at Vitor Baia and the confidence drained from Turkey as they faced a second half chasing a deficit with only ten men. A volley wide from Pinto after a great run by Rui Costa could have doubled Portugal's goal tally just before the interval but he directed his first time shot wide of the target.

THe second half saw only one team attack as Turkey tried to limit damage made by the incisive runs and passes of their opponents.

In the 53rd minute Gomes scored his second and killed the quarter final as a contest when he was again unmarked to steer a Figo cross into the net after the Barcelona star had beaten a defender on the right to carry the ball to the edge of goal.

Three minutes earlier Baia had fumbled a corner and Tayfur hit a shot over the bar as the ball dropped at his feet but Turkey could not offer much in attack.

Portugal stepped up their domination with Pinto and Figo both hitting wide from long t\range in the 58th and 61st minutes respectively and Gomes missed a chance to score his hat trick when he could not drive a Costa miss hit over the line after a Figo corner had caused confusion in the Turkey defence.

Figo set up the Benfica forward again in the 69th minute with a great step over and cross from the left but Gomes could not reach the ball under pressure from a marker.

Rui Costa revelled in the space he found against ten men and drove a shot on the run against the legs of Rustu and flicked the ball up for himself to volley over in the 71st minute in a one sided match.