Greece Turn Back The Clock To Beat Portugal
3/26/2008 4:50 PM
Greece 2-1 Portugal
From both sides, players and coaches insisted that this game would have
nothing to do with the history of Euro 2004. However, the run of the game
in
Düsseldorf proved them all wrong as, just like in Dragao in the opening
game
of the 2004 finals, Greece opened the scoring in the first and doubled
their
advantage in the second, with the Portuguese only earning some late
consolation...
Both of Greece's goals were scored via free-kicks - one in each half- from
Giorgos Karagounis, who incidentally was the scorer of the opener back in
2004. Nuno Gomes pulled one back for Scolari's men late on, but that was
not
enough for them as Otto Rehhagel's boys held on firmly until the final
whistle
The first- half was mostly a midfield affair that saw the Portuguese
controlling the pace of play, but without much success, for it was the
Greeks that had the chances and managed to open the scoring.
In fact, that first strike could have come earlier. Angelos Charisteas
could
have broken the deadlock first but twice in the opening stages of the
match
failed to beat the Portuguese custodian. His header after five minutes of
game was too weak for the advancing Ricardo, who in turn managed the same
two minutes later when he ran to the edge of his area to prevent
Charisteas
from finding space to attempt a lob into his unguarded net.
The goal for the defending champions came after 32 minutes of play.
Karagounis, the Panathinaikos midfielder, hit a well-balanced free-kick
over
Portugal's wall and into the net of helpless Ricardo.
Nonetheless, the same pattern was repeated after the recess, with Portugal
having possession but with Greece finding the back of the net.
On the hour-mark, Karagounis again struck home with a carbon copy of his
first goal. Meanwhile the Portuguese managed only to pull one back through
captain Nuno Gomes late on, when he slotted in from close range.
With the two coaches eager to experiment in new tactics, the game lost its
pace. That favoured Greece, who were left to retain their advantage until
the final whistle.
Michael Paterakis
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