PARIS (AFP) - Euro 2004 hosts Portugal put their hopes of reaching the second phase back on track with a 2-0 win over Group A rivals Russia at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday. 

Goals from FC Porto midfielder Maniche and Rui Costa proved enough to bag the points. 

But the Portuguese, stunned by Greece in their first pool match, made heavy weather of a Russian side reduced to ten men following the sending off seconds before the interval of goalkeeper Sergey Ovchinnikov. 

Ovchinnikov appeared to handle the ball outside his area as Pauleta bore down on him and Norwegian referee Terje Hauge had no option other than to show the red card. 

Stewards hauled away a Russian fan who appeared pitchside to protest at the sending-off as the Russians, having already lost to Spain, made an undignified exit from the tournament. 

After a deafening welcome - the Russians also received huge support from their own fans, including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich - the Portuguese took the lead with only their second attack in the seventh minute. 

A Figo freekick on the right was blocked but Deco pounced on the loose ball to feed Maniche, who fired home from 12 yards. 

Figo should have made it 2-0 after 63 minutes when at the end of a flowing move he saw a low shot strike the base of the post with Malafeev just getting his fingertips to the ball. 

Figo then appealed forlornly for a penalty after tripping over Alexei Bugaev before Malafeev, winning only his third cap, beat out a Deco piledriver. 

With 13 minutes left Figo withdrew from the action to massive cheers as Cristiano Ronaldo joined the fray. 

And it was the Manchester United star who set up Rui Costa to put the icing on the cake with the clincher in the final minute. 

Relieved Portugal set up do or die clash with Spain 
Wed 16 Jun, 11:36 PM 
 
LISBON (AFP) - Host nation Portugal must beat arch-rivals Spain to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 after avoiding elimination from the tournament with a 2-0 defeat of Russia. 

After losing 2-1 to Greece in the curtain-raiser, Portugal finally found their form on Wednesday against a mediocre Russian side who were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Sergey Ovchinnikov was sent off just before half time. 
 
 

Midfielder Maniche struck first after a smart turn and shot in the seventh minute and Rui Costa wrapped up the victory just before the end in the Stadium of Light. 

Spain wasted an opportunity to book their place in the last eight when they let slip a one-goal lead against Greece, who confirmed their tag as the surprise package of the tournament. 

The 1-1 scoreline means Spain need just a draw on Sunday against Portugal, while the Portuguese must win regardless of Greece's result against already-eliminated Russia. 

Euro 2004 rules state that if teams have the same number of points at the end of the group stage, the first factor taken into consideration is the head-to-head results between the teams. 
 
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said violent English fans had brought shame on the nation after a second night of clashes with police in the Algarve. 

However, European football body UEFA accepted the trouble was caused by a minority of fans under the influence of alcohol and said that England's participation in the tournament was not under threat. 
 
On the pitch, Portugal still struggled to shake off Russia even after they were reduced to ten men when Ovchinnikov appeared to handle the ball outside his area. 

Portuguese captain Luis Figo admitted the pressure of the nation had been immense. 
 
"It was very important for us because if we didn't win we would have been out of it. 

"The players felt under pressure because we wanted to do well and because we started really bad against the Greeks." 

And he said the vociferous home support would help his side beat Spain. 

"They have really good players but we are at home and should prevail." 

Spain were kicking themselves for failing to take their chances against Greece in Oporto. 

Fernando Morientes opened the scoring with a cool finish in the 28th minute only for Angelos Charisteas to prod home an equaliser in the second-half. 

Raul might have scored the winner had he not missed an easy header. 

Morientes admitted it was frustrating not to have buried the Greeks. 

"A second goal would have put the match beyond them," said Morientes. "Victory would have guaranteed our place in the quarter-finals but no matter - we must confirm that against Portugal and we are confident we can do so." 

Italy face a major blow if their talismanic midfielder Francesco Totti is suspended after being caught on film spitting at a Danish opponent in their goalless draw on Monday. 

Mea culpa: Russian coach salutes side in adversity 
Wed 16 Jun, 11:53 PM 
 
LISBON (AFP) - Russia coach Georgy Yartsev blamed himself and said he was proud of his side's efforts to stand firm in the face of adverse circumstances after his charges lost 2-0 to Portugal in Wednesday's Euro 2004 Group A ending their hopes of making the last eight. 

They managed to trail the Portuguese by only 1-0 until the last minute of the second-half despite being reduced to 10-men virtually on the stroke of half-time when keeper Sergei Ovchinnikov was sent-off. 
 
"I said we would have to face an angry and ambitious team," said Yartsev, referring to Portugal's opening 2-1 loss to Greece. 

"And it's twice as hard to fight when you are down to ten men," he acknowledged while refusing to criticise the decision of Norwegian referee Terje Hauge to dismiss Ovchinnikov, who he revealed insisted he had not handled the ball outside his area as Pedro Pauleta raced goalwards. 

"He (Ovchennikov) is 100 percent sure he did not handle the ball," said Yartsev, who added he and he alone would take the blame for the defeat which followed on from a 1-0 loss to Spain. 

"On the sending off I will not comment as that's not my role. the result is the result and it makes no sense to dwell on that. You have to judge. We do not have to comment on referees' actions. 

"In my life I follow one principle. I am responsible for what happens. I will never blame my players. This is the principle which I will follow for the rest of my life. 

"I am proud of my youngsters, who fought hard against a very talented side. 

"We win together and we lose together. It was me who lost this game," said Yartsev. 

He insisted, meanwhile, that Russia would not allow Greece, who earlier drew with Spain to leave those sides joint top of the group a point clear of Portugal, to walk all over them in their final pool match. 

"Those who think that we will just walk around in the third game are mistaken, We will fight. We need goals and points at this Euro. 

"The outcome of that match could be crucial for the group. We will be fighting and will show courage. 

"But I have some problems as Alexei Smertin is suspended so I will have to rejig the back four once again. 

"Today we didn't achieve what we tried to do - we made simple mistakes." 

While taking the flak for the two losses Yartsev nevertheless does not take criticism lightly as witnessed by his decision to throw midfielder Alexander Mostovoi out of the squad after the player criticised his methods. 

Dmitri Loskov replaced Mostovoi on Wednesday. 
 

개최국 포르투갈이 그리스전 패배를 딛고 첫 승의 감격을 홈팬들에게 산뜻하게 배달했다. 

포르투갈은 17일 새벽(한국시간) 포르투갈 리스본 루즈 스타디움에서 열린 러시아와의 유로 2004 A조 예선 두번째 경기에서 마니시와 후이 코스타의 연속골에 힘입어 2-0으로 승리했다. 

이로써 포르투갈은 1승1패 승점3점을 얻으며 오는 21일 '이베리아반도의 앙숙' 스페인과 8강진출을 놓고 마지막 혈투를 벌인다. 

파울레타를 원톱으로 배치해 4-2-3-1포메이션을 가동한 스콜라리 감독은 후이 코스타, 루이 조르제 등 '황금 세대' 멤버를 모두 빼고 데쿠, 미겔, 발렌테 등 젊은 피를 대거 기용했다. 스콜라리 감독의 의도대로 젊은 피의 효과는 경기 시작과 함께 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 

전반 7분 아크서클 오른쪽에서 볼을 잡은 데쿠는 낮고 빠른 오른발 크로스를 올렸고 마니시가 수비수를 등진 채 볼을 잡아 망설임없이 오른발 터닝슛한 볼은 러시아 오른쪽 골네트를 흔들었다. 

러시아는 전반44분 GK 오브키니코프가 파울레타와 1대1로 맞선 상황에서 페널티지역을 벗어나 핸들링을 범해 퇴장당하면서 무너졌다. 

후반 들어 포르투갈은 누노 고메스와 후이 코스타, 호나우두를 투입하며 승부수를 띄웠고 이는 또 한번 적중했다. 그리스전에서 후반 44분 골을 터트렸던 신예 호나우두는 현란한 드리블로 왼쪽 측면을 돌파한 후 감각적인 패스를 올렸다. 

이미 러시아 수비진과 GK 모두 호나우두의 예상치 못한 패스에 시선을 잃은 상태였고 포르투갈의 후이 코스타는 텅빈 골문을 향해 침착하게 오른발로 볼을 차넣으며 승리를 확정지었다. 

한편 개막전에서 포르투갈에 승리하며 돌풍을 일으켰던 그리스는 이날 포르투 베사 스타디움에서 열린 스페인전에서 전반 28분 모리엔테스에게 선제골을 내줬지만 후반21분 카리스테아스의 동점골로 1-1 무승부를 연출하며 이변을 이어갔다.  

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