FIFA World Cup 2010: Portugal vs. Brazil - Full Time Review
Portugal took on Brazil in one of the most anticipated clashes of the World Cup group stages. Brazil started with Robinho on the bench as Nilmar took his place in the Brazilian attack. Kaka was absent for the five time champions with a suspension from the last match against Ivory Coast, Elano was also missing with an injury which meant that Daniel Alves replaced him.
Portugal started with a pragmatic line up with Pepe in midfield and Ronaldo as their sole striker upfront. Ricardo Costa replaced Miguel from the last match and Duda played left back for the Portuguese as Fabio Coentrao was pushed up field to a midfield role. Danny was brought in to replace Simao as well. The last time these teams met in the World Cup was 44 years ago. That match ended in a 3-1 win for the Portuguese with Eusebio and Simôes scoring for them.
Brazil looked on top as the first half gathered pace. By the 5th minute mark, they had already forced Portugal to concede to corners. Brazil had their attempt at the target around the 7th minute mark with Daniel Alves trying his luck from around 30 yards out but he failed to hit the target.
The first yellow card of the match was shown to the Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano in the 14th minute of the match for his challenge on Pepe. The first Portuguese shot on target of the first half came from their midfielder Tiago who tried his luck from 20 yards out but sliced his shot wide. Juan was shown the second yellow card of the match was deliberately handling the ball to stop a Portuguese counter attack on the half way line, the follow up protests also earned Duda the Portuguese midfielder a booking.
Brazil controlled most of the possession during the first half of the match as Portugal found it difficult to pass the ball around successfully. Their best chance of the game came in the 31st minute as Eduardo the Portuguese goal keeper parried Nilmar’s shot towards the goal onto the post. At the 29th minute mark, Tiago went down in the Brazilian penalty after a blistering Portuguese counter attack. The referee booked the Portuguese midfielder for diving and trying to deceive the officials.
Another Portuguese player, Pepe was booked around the 37th minute mark for a late challenge on Felipe Melo. Brazil created another superb goal scoring chance at the 39th minute mark as Luis Fabiano’s header went just wide of the goal after some excellent build up play. Portugal’s most disappointing player in the first half was Ricardo Costa who had a terrible time dealing with Nilmar’s pace and dribbling skill on the left side of the Brazilian attack. The sixth yellow card of the match was shown to Felipe Melo for his tackle on Pepe in the 42nd minute of the match.
The first substitution of the match came just before the half time whistle. Felipe Melo’s duel with Pepe was on the verge of getting him sent off, with the midfielder already on a yellow card; Dunga played it safe and brought the midfielder off, replacing him with Josue. The seventh yellow card of the match was shown to the Fabio Coentrao for the Portuguese right at the half time whistle after his tackle from behind on Daniel Alves.
Portugal started the second half much brighter of the two teams, as they pushed forwards and forced a corner around the 47th minute mark but they couldn’t capitalize on the set piece opportunity. Portuguese brought on Simao in place of Duda at the 54th minute mark to add some more speed to their attack. This was Portugal’s first change of the match.
Around the 60th minute of the match, Ronaldo took the attack to the Brazilians and forced a mistake from Lucio which almost resulted in a goal for Raul Mereiles from the Portuguese side, only to be denied by a brave save from the Brazilian goal keeper. The second substitution of the match for the Portuguese took place in the 62nd minute as Pepe was replaced by Pedro Mendes. Ronaldo again broke through the Brazilian ranks to get on the end of a cross by Simao but his shot went high and wide above the goal.
Portuguese defense was on top for most of the match and this was signified by an excellent tackle made in the 79th minute by Ricardo Carvalho at the edge of their his own penalty area in doing so he denied Julio Baptista a goal scoring opportunity. Portugal made their last change of the match with Miguel Veloso replacing Raul Mereiles in the center of midfield around the 83rd minute spot.
Brazil made two quick changes around the 83rd minute mark with Baptista being replaced by Ramires and Luis Fabiano making way for Grafite. In the 91st minute of the match, Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo pulled off a magnificent in order to deny Josue after his shot was deflected off Bruno Alves. In the last minute of the match Portugal had the last corner of the match but it all came to nothing as the ball was finally cleared and the match ended nil all at the final whistle.
The result means that both of these teams progress at the cost of Ivory Coast and North Korea. Brazil go as the winners of the group and Portugal go through as the second placed team. Portugal and Brazil now might play Spain, Switzerland or Chile depending on the results of their matches tonight.
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