Portugal Top The Group - Portugal 2 Mexico 1

Home: World Cup Finals: Germany 2006: 1st Round: Match Schedule: Portugal vs Mexico

Wednesday, 21st June 2006
Portugal Top The Group

Previous Encounters:
A 1969 friendly between Portugal and Mexico doesn't count for much, as it ended in a (0:0) draw.

The Match:
In the second minute, Mexico showed their intentions to try and win the group as Francisco Fonseca jiggled into the box on the right. His shot was an easy save for Alexandre Ricardo though.

Portugal had the same idea and replied with a goal four minutes later, as Sabrosa Simao's cross from the left was straight into the path of Nuno Maniche.

A penalty was awarded to Portugal, in the 23rd minute, as Rafael Marquez jumped to head and raised his hand to give a slight flick to ball's direction.

Oswaldo Sanchez jumped all over the line, eventually dived the right way but Simao's spot-kick went in above the flying Mexican.

Ricardo had to be alert, four minutes later, to deny Omar Bravo his third goal of the tournament. From the corner that followed, Francisco Fonseca headed inside the far post (no defender there) to bring Mexico back into the game.

Two minutes from half-time, Ricardo stopped Fonseca pulling Mexico level; although he only saw the shot at the last second, when Omar Bravo ducked, while the ball was in flight.

Then another goal-mouth scare, as Portugal struggled to clear and Fonseca collided with Ricardo; the goalkeeper rolling into the back of the net.

Half-time: (2:1).

Just when the game seemed to have lost its urgency, Luis Miguel gave away a penalty with a lunging tackle and handball. Omar Bravo missed the 57th minute spot-kick and Portugal could breathe again.

Another penalty appeal was turned down, again involving Miguel. As the defender was already on a yellow card, he was promptly substituted.

No such luck for Luis Perez; whose second yellow card, just after the hour, reduced Mexico to 10 men.

Portugal just played the time out.

Final Score:
Portugal 2 - Mexico 1

Goalscorers:
1:0 Nuno Maniche (6)
2:0 Sabrosa Simao (24pen)
2:1 Francisco Fonseca (29)

Teams

Portugal:
1 Alexandre Ricardo; 3 Marco Caneira, 5 Fernando Meira, 13 Luis Miguel, 16 Ricardo Carvalho; 7 Luis Figo, 8 Armando Petit, 11 Sabrosa Simao. 18 Nuno Maniche, 19 Cardoso Tiago; 23 Helder Postiga.

Mexico:
1 Oswaldo Sanchez; 3 Carlos Salcido, 4 Rafael Marquez, 5 Ricardo Osorio, 16 Mario Mendez, 22 Francisco Rodriguez; 8 Pavel Pardo, 14 Gonzalo Pineda, 23 Luis Perez; 17 Francisco Fonseca, 19 Omar Bravo.

Referee:
Lubos Michel (Slovakia)

Substitutions:
46 Mins (Mexico) - 7 Antonio 'Zinha' Naelson on for 22 Francisco Rodriguez
61 Mins (Portugal) - 2 Paulo Ferreira on for 13 Luis Miguel
69 Mins (Mexico) - 15 Jose Antonio Castro on for 14 Gonzalo Pineda
69 Mins (Portugal) - 21 Nuno Gomes on for 23 Helder Postiga
80 Mins (Mexico) - 10 Guillermo Franco on for 16 Mario Mendez
80 Mins (Portugal) - 15 Luis Boa Morte on for 7 Luis Figo

9 Yellow Cards:
22 Mins - Francisco Rodriguez (Mexico)
26 Mins - Luis Miguel (Portugal)
27 Mins - Luis Perez (Mexico)
61 Mins - Luis Perez (Mexico)
65 Mins - Rafael Marquez (Mexico)
69 Mins - Nuno Maniche (Portugal)
87 Mins - Antonio 'Zinha' Naelson (Mexico)
88 Mins - Luis Boa Morte (Portugal)
90 Mins - Nuno Gomes (Portugal)