Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and set up two more to put Portugal on the brink of the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2008 after a 3-1 win over Group A rivals Czech Republic at the Stade de Genève.
Deco had given Portugal an eighth-minute lead after good work from Ronaldo before Libor Sionko's thumping header levelled proceedings. However, Ronaldo turned on the style in the second half, providing a sublime finish from the edge of the area in the 63rd minute before supplying Ricardo Quaresma to round things off in added time. The win, which leaves Portugal top of Group A with six points, will almost certainly ensure them a last-eight place but it leaves the Czechs with a nervous finish in their final group game against Turkey on Sunday.
Ardan Turan's deflected goal deep in injury time gave Turkey a win that revived their UEFA EURO 2008 hopes – but ended those of co-hosts Switzerland on St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
Switzerland, like Turkey beaten on the opening day, dealt better with a first-half Basel downpour and Hakan Yakin put them ahead just past the half-hour with a rain-assisted goal. Semih, however, was a prolific scorer from the bench for Fenerbahçe SK this season and 12 minutes after his half-time introduction he repeated the trick for his nation. It seemed a draw would be the outcome but Arda had other ideas and now Turkey can reach the quarter-finals by winning their final Group A game against the Czech Republic on Sunday. Switzerland will finish in fourth place.
Deco had given Portugal an eighth-minute lead after good work from Ronaldo before Libor Sionko's thumping header levelled proceedings. However, Ronaldo turned on the style in the second half, providing a sublime finish from the edge of the area in the 63rd minute before supplying Ricardo Quaresma to round things off in added time. The win, which leaves Portugal top of Group A with six points, will almost certainly ensure them a last-eight place but it leaves the Czechs with a nervous finish in their final group game against Turkey on Sunday.
Ardan Turan's deflected goal deep in injury time gave Turkey a win that revived their UEFA EURO 2008 hopes – but ended those of co-hosts Switzerland on St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Switzerland, like Turkey beaten on the opening day, dealt better with a first-half Basel downpour and Hakan Yakin put them ahead just past the half-hour with a rain-assisted goal. Semih, however, was a prolific scorer from the bench for Fenerbahçe SK this season and 12 minutes after his half-time introduction he repeated the trick for his nation. It seemed a draw would be the outcome but Arda had other ideas and now Turkey can reach the quarter-finals by winning their final Group A game against the Czech Republic on Sunday. Switzerland will finish in fourth place.
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