Group D
Portugal 2, Iran 0
A sublime 63rd-minute long-range strike by midfielder Deco and an 80th minute penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal a hard-fought 2-0 win to send Iran packing from the World Cup yesterday.
The defeat means Iran have no points from their two Group D matches following their 3-1 defeat by Mexico in the opening match.
Portugal head the group on 6 points ahead of Mexico on 4.
From the start, Portugal found it tough to penetrate the packed defense of an Iranian team.
Deco, making his first World Cup outing, came close in the 12th minute when his left-footed strike produced a good one-handed save from Iranian goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour.
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had fielded the Barcelona star, recovered from injury, along with Franciso Costinha and Maniche in place of Armando Petit, Tiago and Simao Sabrosa.
Manchester United winger Ronaldo fired just wide in the 35th minute and he and Luis Figo were always lively, but Iran held firm as it banked on counter-attacks.
Figo did connect 10 minutes later -- caught in the face by the high boot of a lunging Hossein Kaebi in what looked like a blatant challenge which was unspotted by French referee Eric Poulat.
The Portuguese striker was back in defense to make a crucial interception off Hashemian shortly after, and Portugal's attacking right back Miguel was unlucky after a barnstorming run, Mirzapour almost deflecting into his own net as the first half closed.
Ten minutes into the second half, Ronaldo forced another good Mirzapour save as he broke through on the left an hit a fierce left- foot shot. But just after the hour he had no chance against Deco.
Figo held the ball on the left, then cut in and put it at Deco's feet, and the Brazilian-born midfielder sweetly struck a screaming 25-yard shot into Mirzapour's top right-hand corner.
Moments after coming on as a substitute, Rasoul Khatibi had the Iranian fans believing a point was salvaged in the 68th minute as he stormed in -- only to hit wide.
Ricardo was again stretched in the 78th minute off Hashemian -- but Iran's demise was sealed moments later when captain Yahya Golmohammadi brought Figo down just inside the penalty area.
Ronaldo sent Mirzapour the wrong way with the spot kick -- and the Portuguese relief in wrapping up the victory was palpable.
Full report in tomorrow's edition of the Taipei Times.
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