Portugal 5 Lithuania 1

Portugal ran out easy winners in the end in their first match since losing in a Euro 2000 semi final.

That match ended in chaos as the Portuguese intimidated a referee and they were missing three stars last night who were serving lengthy bans for misconduct.

It did not matter against Lithuania as Joao Pinto scored with a header on the half hour and Luis Figo flicked a ball into the net in the 38th minute with a neat finish after a good turn.

The game was then a formality for the home side but Arturas Formenko did force a save from Vitor Baia with a powerful shot in the first half.

Jorge Costa conceded a 45th minute penalty which allowed Formenko to score after a handball but Rui Costa replied two minutes after the restart with a penalty of his own.

Portugal followed a scrappy second half with an 80th minute Roberto Severo goal with Pedro Resendes completing the scoring in the 86th minute from close range.