Portugal Beats Holland to Book Ticket to Finals

A virtuoso performance from Luis Figo ensured Portugal will advance to the final of a major soccer tournament for the first time. The Portugal skipper deservedly picked up the man of the match award after brilliantly orchestrating Portugal's best Euro 2004 performance so far.

"I'm happy with this performance and of course I'm happy for the country to be in the final," Figo said. "I thing Portugal has fantastic players, young players, and the country has to be happy for the future because we have all the conditions to continue to have a great team."

A first-half header from teen star Cristiano Ronaldo and a stunning strike by midfielder Maniche just before the hour mark secured the victory. But it was a freak own goal by centre-back Jorge Andrade ensured the home supporters had to endure a nerve-tingling semi-final against Holland.

But the Dutch, run to the point of exhaustion by Portugal's slick passing, never seriously threatened to delay the start of one of the biggest nights of celebrations in Lisbon's history. It was symptomatic of the hosts' superiority that their opening goal came mid-way through a first half in which, unshackled by nerves, they might easily have put the game out of their opponents' reach.

Deco provided the first declaration of attacking intent with a 6th minute chip towards the head of Pauleta that almost caught out Dutch keeper EdwinVan der Sar when it flew clean over the head of Portugal's lone striker. But it was the forward thrusts of Cristiano Ronaldo and Figo which were doing most to unsettle the Dutch.

Twice in the period of sustained pressure which preceded the goal, Figo broke clear of their backline in exhilarating fashion and whipped in dangerous low crosses that, first Ronaldo and then Pauleta, were frustratingly close to meeting.

Figo deserves goal

A goal for Figo would have been fitting but it was his heir-apparent Ronaldo who was to provide both the foundations and the finish. Michael Reiziger did well to halt the Manchester United winger's advance into the Dutch box with a well-timed tackle. But he promptly blotted his record by failing to cut out the resulting corner from Deco. Unchallenged, Ronaldo was able to head past Van der Sar from the edge of the six-yard box.

Philip Cocu's hopeful long range effort had been the Netherlands' solitary attempt on goal up until that point but the flurry of activity that followed the goal almost produced an equalizer. But Portugal quickly re-established their dominance.

A neat one-two with Deco sent Maniche clear on the right of the Dutch box. The midfielder did his job with an early low cross to the near post but Pauleta failed to do his, pushing a mishit shot straight at Van der Sar.

Ruud van Nistelrooy thought he had scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the 39th minute but his low drive from just inside the area was chalked off for offside. "It's unbelievable how the referee ruled everything in favor of Portugal. He was a real home whistler," said the frustrated Van Nistelrooy. "The referee gave them the benefit of the doubt. Every 50-50 situation was for them. We cannot do anything about it."

Portugal the countered and finally got the second goal their efforts deserved. After picking up a short corner from Ronaldo just outside the corner of the Dutch box, Maniche unleashed an angled left-foot drive that dipped over van der Sar and into the net off the far post.

Given what had gone before, the Portuguese fans could have been forgiven for thinking that was game over. But the Netherlands were presented with fresh hope six minutes later when Andrade, stretching to intercept van Bronckhorst's cross from the left sent it spinning over the head of his own goalkeeper for an own goal. It was a lifeline for the Dutch but ultimately one they were unable to grasp.

Lineups:

Portugal: Ricardo Pereira; Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Andrade, Nuno Valente, Miguel; Luis Figo, Costinha, Deco, Nuno Maniche (Fernando Couto 87th), Cristiano Ronaldo (Armando Petit 68th); Pauleta (Nuno Gomes 75th).

Netherlands: Edwin Van der Sar; Michael Reiziger, Jaap Stam, Wilfred Bouma (Rafael van der Vaart 55th), Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Phillip Cocu; Marc Overmars (Roy Makaay 46th), Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben (Pierre van Hooijdonk 81st).

Referee: Anders Frisk, Sweden