sport

Portugal power to comfortable win

Portugal proved their Euro 2008 title credentials with a convincing display in a 2-0 win over Turkey in their Group A opener in Geneve.

The Portuguese are among the favourites to win the tournament and they showed just why on Saturday evening - with Pepe's 61st-minute strike coming at the end of one of many exhilarating attacking moves.

Substitute Raul Meireles finished off another one in stoppage time to add gloss to the result - and Luiz Felipe Scolari's side can feel more than happy with their opening performance.

Cristiano Ronaldo - who hit the post with a sensational free-kick early on - inspired his side to victory as they scored two second half goals to kill of a Turkish threat which never materialised.

All eyes were on Ronaldo from the start, but the Manchester United winger's first notable contribution was to fire a left-footed effort over the bar in the sixth minute.

Real Madrid defender Pepe thought he had put the Euro 2004 finalists ahead in the 17th minute when he headed home following Simao Sabrosa's corner but his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

Nihat Kahveci saw a free-kick deflected wide at the other end, while Deco was off target with a free-kick of his own for Portugal.

Ronaldo produced his first real magic moment on the half hour mark but he eventually dragged his effort wide after skating through four challenges.

Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan then stepped up to keep out the winger's blistering free-kick and Joao Moutinho lashed over from 10 yards, but the deadlock was not to be broken in the first half.

Portugal continued to press at the start of the second half and were inches away from taking the lead in the 50th minute when Nuno Gomes poked an effort onto the post - the referee playing advantage following a foul on Simao on the edge of the area.

Scolari was beginning to get animated on the touchline at his team's failures in the final third.

Ronaldo sought to rectify that by fending off the attentions of Hamit Altintop and breaking clear on the left 11 minutes after the break, but again he saw his shot kept out by Volkan.

Joao Moutinho's swerving attempt was too high to worry the keeper but, although Turkey substitute Sabri Sarioglu also let fly from long range, Portugal did not have much longer to wait for the breakthrough.

Ronaldo forced Demirel into another save as he began to take control of the game but it was Pepe who put their side ahead with a goal of real quality in the 61st minute.

The defender picked up the ball 40 yards from goal and drove forward before playing a one-two with Gomes that saw him break into the box and fire over Demirel via a deflection off a despairing last-ditch tackle.

Pepe's tidy finish was followed almost immediately by a glancing Nuno Gomes header from Ronaldo's cross which struck the crossbar with Volkan rooted to the spot.

Turkey looked to be getting frustrated as the Portuguese asserted their authority, with Sabri's over-zealous appeals for handball against Simao on the edge of the area earning the Galatasaray defender a yellow card.

Turkey did look dangerous on the break and Emre headed wide when he really should have scored eight minutes from time.

Tuncay also had a chance to nick a point towards the end but completely missed his kick.

United's Nani, on as a substitute for Gomes, forced Demirel into yet another good save soon after before Raul Meireles - on for Deco 60 seconds previously - fired home into an unguarded net following a wonderful counter attack involving Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho.