Wednesday June 30th

Portugal Make Final

The hosts scored all 3 goals in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands to reach the Final of Euro 2004. Ronaldo nearly got on the end of a cross in the 9th minute, but in the 26th minute got the better of the Dutch defense from a corner kick to head Portugal into the lead. He was booked for taking his shirt off to celebrate. Two minutes later Overmars came close with a powerful volley. In the 31st minute a close-range header from Seedorf took a deflection for a corner kick, and Portugal had a chance to score in the 35th minute, but Pauleta's side-footed shot from inside the area was saved. With 4 minutes of the first half remaining, Figo's brilliant curling shot from the right beat van der Sar, but hit the post. Portugal had a good chance to score in the 54th minute when Pauleta was set free and had only the keeper to beat, but van der Sar got down quickly to hold on to his shot. A quickly taken corner in the 58th minute found Maniche who drove the ball into the top right corner from an innocuous-looking distance. Five minutes later The Dutch were given a glimmer of hope when Andrade intercepted a dangerous low cross from reaching van Nistelrooy, but inadvertently sliced the ball over Ricardo. Two minutes later an in-swinging cross came dangerously close to the Portuguese goal, but as The Netherlands went in search of an equalizer, it was Portugal who came closer. Maniche had his 77th minute shot blocked in the area, and in the last minute of stoppage time Deco had a chance to put the icing on the cake when he came face to face with van der Sar, but the keeper got in the way of his shot. Portugal will face either Greece or the Czech Republic in the final on Sunday.