Sunday June 20th

Gomes Shoots Portugal To The Top

A goal from Nuno Gomes was enough to knock Spain out and send Portugal through. Portugal's determination didn't create any good chances in the first half. Miguel had his shot saved in the 20th minute by the Portuguese keeper who had to rush out of his area 7 minutes later to beat Raul to the ball. Portugal came closest when Ronaldo rose well, but headed just wide in the last minute of the first half. Nuno Gomez sent the home crowd into ecstasy when his shot from outside the area found the corner of the net in the 57th minute. Spain came close to equalizing in the 62nd minute when Torres hit the post, but Portugal had several chances to increase their lead. Casillas did well to save Figo's 68th minute free kick, and he got in the way of Costinha's header from the ensuing corner. Costinha was guilty of heading well over the bar when he found himself unmarked in front of goal, and though Maniche rounded the keeper in stoppage time, his effort was heroically cleared off the line by Raul Bravo. Portugal celebrated victory over their neighbours, as Spain anxiously waited for the Greece v Russia result.

Russia Beat Happy Greeks

Greece went through to the next round despite losing 2-1 to Russia. With just over a minute gone Kirichenko pounced on a defensive error to shoot passed Nikopolidis and put Russia ahead with the quickest goal in the history of the competition. Bulyikin doubled their lead 15 minutes later with a diving header from a corner kick. Two minutes later Malafayef saved a well-struck free kick from Basinas. Russia saw a shot by Kariaka and a header by Bulyikin miss their targets, and Nikopolidis turned round a Kariaka shot for a corner. Papadopoulos headed the ball to Vrysaz in the 43rd minute who lifted it passed the diving keeper to score what turned out to be a vital goal for Greece. Russian substitute sitchef had his shot saved in the 61st minute. Malafayef made a brilliant save to deny tsartas in the 77th minute. Greece celebrated in defeat as they edged pass Spain on goals scored, but it could have been all so different had Kirichenko managed to get a toe to the ball that went across the face of goal with only 4 minutes left.