PORTUGAL 1-0 FINLAND
Estádio do Algarve, em Faro, 20:30
Portugal substitutions:
46' Pepe out, Raul Meireles in
46' Tiago out, Maniche in
57' Hugo Almeida out, Orlando Sá in
61' Gk Eduardo out, Daniel Fernandes in
62' Miguel out, Paulo Ferreira in
77' Nani out, Danny in
Finland substitutions:
46' Jussi Jääskeläinen out, Niki Mäenpää in
46' Mikael Forssell out, Daniel Sjölund in
46' Jari Litmanen out, Shefki Kuqi in
79' Joonas Kolkka out, Juha Hakola in
Lineups:
PORTUGAL - Eduardo; Miguel, Bruno Alves, Rolando and Duda; Deco, Pepe e Tiago; Nani, Hugo Almeida e Cristiano Ronaldo.
Substitutes: Daniel Fernandes, Paulo Ferreira, Gonçalo Brandão, João Moutinho, Maniche, Raul Meireles, Danny, Eliseu e Orlando Sá.
Coach: Carlos Queiroz.
FINLAND- Jääskeläinen; Pasanen, Tihinen, Hyypia e Kallio; Johannson, Heikinen, Eremenko e Kolkka; Litmanen e Forssell.
Substitutes: Mäenpää, Lampi, Pasoja, Sparv, Sjölund, Kuqi, Petrescu, Sadik e Hakola.
Coach: Stuart Baxter.
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Feb 11, 2009- Video highlights Portugal 1-0 Finland. In Portuguese.
00:00- 00:18- Cristiano Ronaldo being honored by the FPF before the game with a plaque.
00:27 Saves by Finland goalkeeper
00:36 Penalty action. "Foul" on Orlando Sa. Record and O Jogo were skeptical and said that it was not a penalty at all.
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Did they have to wait til the 80th minute? Stay 0-0 in the first half? You're playing at home against Finland not a top 5 team. If it wasn't for a set-piece would it have been another 0-0. I'm happy for Cristiano Ronaldo who finally scored for Portugal.
I'm worried that the Portugal team might struggle again against another Scandinavian team, Sweden in the 2010 world cup qualifier. It was 0-0 in the first leg.
After Brazil 6-2 Portugal, I had said "Tenho saudades de Scolari (I miss Scolari)" Now that he's without a job, it is too late for him to come back. Queiroz is starting that "renovation" and has little time to show good results. We have no choice but too wait and hope Portugal is no longer 3rd in Group 1.
Hearing it on Antena1 it was strange to hear so many new names in the starting lineup. AND that Paolo Ferreira was on the bench and came in so late. It's an exciting time to see new players, Eduardo the goalkeeper, Rolando, and Orlando Sa. Wonder who Queiroz will keep as first choice goalkeeper, Eduardo or Daniel Fernandes. Both of them played today.
Could only say I'm cautiously optimistic.
Defense- Miguel starting, Pepe and Rolando
Midfield- Queiroz tested Tiago with Deco but their similar styles overlapped in the first half. Looks like Raul Meireles and Moutinho will start in the next Portugal game and Tiago will need to wait for his chance.
Forwards- Couldn't believe Danny came in later in the game.
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