The Euro 2004 Football Championships.
Greece spoil Portuguese party
by Rui Pires - Last Updated 12 Jun 2004
Host nation Portugal made a disappointing start to their Euro 2004 campaign,
losing 2-1 to Greece at the Estadio do Dragao in Oporto.
Goals from Giorgios Karagounis and Angelos Basinas gave Greece their first win in a major tournament against a Portuguese side at odds with their nerves.
The Greeks signalled their intention early and should have opened the scoring in the first minute. Vryzas failed to make contact with a Takis Fyssas cross with the Portuguese defence in disarray.
The pressure from Otto Rehhagel's side told and Greece opened the scoring on seven minutes. A Paulo Ferreira mistake allowed Karagounis to run unchallenged before striking a long range effort past Ricardo.
The home side were stung by the setback and immediately went on the attack. Antonis Nikopolidis failed to deal with a high ball but no one could take advantage and the Greeks cleared their lines.
A mistake by Costinha almost presented Angelos Haristeas with the chance to double Greece's lead on nine but he got his angles wrong and the shot fizzed wide.
Greece were looking the most comfortable team as Portugal failed to get going. Perugia midfielder Zisis Vryzas tried his luck on the volley but his shot sailed high and wide.
It took 15 minutes for Portugal to muster their first chance of the match. Fernando Couto laid the ball off nicely to fellow centre back Jorge Andrade who fired wide.
The lively Haristeas then had a couple of efforts as Greece looked to double their advantage.
First, the Werder Bremen striker jumped higher than the Portuguese defence to head over before finding some room in the area and shooting straight at Ricardo.
Portugal had their best chance of the half on 25 minutes when a Paulo Ferreira cross was headed wide by the unmarked Rui Costa.
Six minutes later and a deft touch took Simao past Dellas and into the area, but Nikopolidis came out well to smother the danger.
Figo began to run the show as the host nation looked to get back into the game. The Real Madrid winger fed Maniche but his effort cleared the crossbar.
Despite Figo's probings, Portugal did not pose much of a threat to the Greek defence with Pauleta looking increasingly isolated up front on his own.
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made a double substitution at half time with Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco coming on for the disappointing Rui Costa and Simao.
However, Portugal suffered a further blow on 51 minutes as Seitaridis was crudely brought down by Ronaldo in the area. Basinas coolly stroked the penalty past Ricardo to make it 2-0.
The host nation tried to regroup but despite their best effort, Greece defended stoutly and chances were at a premium.
Maniche saw another long-range effort sail wide on 60 minutes before Scolari made his third change with striker Nuno Gomes coming on to bolster the attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo desperately tried to make up for his error with some clever jinking runs from the right but there was no end product from the Manchester United man's crosses.
Figo failed to make the breakthrough with a free-kick on 75 before Deco tried his luck after a jinking run took him within sight of the Greek goal.
Try as they might, the Portuguese attack failed to force Nikolidis into a save. Ronaldo found some space in the area but his shot on the turn hit Seitaridis and bounced wide.
The Greek keeper was forced to do some work on 85 minutes, palming away a Nuno Gomes effort as Portugal looked to salvage some pride.
Portugal managed a consolation goal on 92 minutes when Ronaldo headed in a Figo corner but Greece held on to win the opening match of Euro 2004.
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