Portugal v Greece - Match Report
Greeks gatecrash Portugal's party
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| Greece's midfielder Georgios Karagounis (2nd L) looks at the ball after kicking next to Portugal's defender Fernando Couto (C) 12 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto during their Euro 2004 first group A football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
Hosts Portugal tripped up badly in their Euro 2004 opener against Greece on Saturday, goals from Georgios Karagounis and a penalty from Angelis Basinas consigning them to a shock 2-1 defeat to give the Greeks their first ever win at a major championships.
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| Greece's midfielder Georgios Karagounis (foreground) celebrates after scoring a fake opening goal next to Italian referee Pierluigi Collina (R) 12 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 first group A football match between Portugal and Greece, at the European Nations Championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE |
It came as a nasty shock to the partisan 52,000 sell-out crowd when it was the visitors who took a seventh minute lead.
Portugal's quest to at last get their hands on a major trophy after decades of disappointment got off to the worst possible start when Karagounis pounced on a sloppy clearance from Chelsea's new 20 million euro signing Paulo Ferreira on the left.
The Inter Milan player slammed the ball past keeper Ricardo from 20 metres out as captain Fernando Couto fatally backed off challenging him.
On the half hour Greek goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis was at full stretch to cancel out a Luis Figo cross from the right as Portugal's attackers turned up the heat.
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| Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) gestures next to his teammate, forward Luis Figo, after missing a goal, 12 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during his team's Euro 2004 group A football match against Greece at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Greece won 2 to O. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
Costinha also went desperately close but his shot curled just wide of the post with the keeper beaten.
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| Greece's midfielder Angelis Basinas (foreground) kicks the ball to score 12 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto during the Euro 2004 group A football match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made two second half changes - bringing on Manchester United starlet Cristiano Ronaldo in place of Simao Sabrosa and Deco for Rui Costa.
But minutes after taking to the pitch the teenaged Ronaldo handed the Greeks a handsome gift when knocking over Georgios Seitaridis, referee Pierluigi Collina's immediately pointing to the spot.
Angelis Basinas sent Ricardo the wrong way as he slotted it into the top right hand corner to give the host nation a decidely uphill struggle to get back into the match.
Ronaldo then made amends for his earlier indiscretion when giving Portugal a consolation goal deep into injury time from Figo's corner but it was too late and Greece had a famous win.