Portugal 1-2 Australia LAST 16 (Match #55)

Australia pulled off arguably the shock of the tournament  with a late win over a Portugal side who fell asleep at two set-pieces and were made to pay for it as the Socceroos made the Quarter-Finals for the very first time.

Tim Cahill put Australia in front after twenty minutes with his 27th goal for his country, tapping home at the far post after Pepe and Moutinho got in each other’s way at a corner gifting the ball to poacher Cahill.

Five minutes later and Cristiano Ronaldo had the goal at his mercy when Federici got a touch to a Fernando header, sending the ball high into Ronaldo’s path, but the Real Madrid man could only head against the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

Fifteen minutes into the second-half and Portugal drew level from the same corner as Australia’s opener. Moutinho’s in-swinger was delivered into the six-yard box where Bruno Alves powered his header home.

The winner came inside the final five minutes. Australia had a throw-in mid-way in the opposition half which Lucas Neill took quickly to Porta. He played it back to Neill who sent a deep cross into the box. Pereira got his feet in a mess allowing David Carney to collect and round Eduardo to win it.

                   FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014
                     MATCH 55: SECOND ROUND
                    
                     PORTUGAL 1-2 AUSTRALIA
                     Alves 59     Cahill 21
                                  Carney 86

                          Porto Alegre

FIFA World Cup 2014: Group H, Matchday 3

Portugal and Germany are hotly-tipped to both qualify with wins in today’s Group H fixtures. Portugal play Morocco who are already out, while Germany take on Jamaica who can qualify with a win. A draw wouldn’t do them any favours unless Morocco can put four past Portugal.

Odds: Jamaica 7-1 v. Germany 1-3F (Draw 3-1)
Odds: Portugal 4-6F v. Morocco 7-2 (Draw 9-4)

Timeline:

• 09′ POR 1-0 MOR: No one closes Danny down as the Zenit midfielder and he brings the ball forwards through the middle before driving a low shot home from the edge of the box, bobbling underneath Bourkadi.

• 13′ JAM 1-0 GER: Germany rocked by a route one goal,as Liam Feeney tears off in celebration. Miller hits a long free-kick forwards, Khedira loses out in the air to Elliott who finds Feenery unmarked on the edge of the box. He slams a shot into the roof of the net.

• 33′ JAM 1-1 GER: André Schürrle, who’s just signed a new deal with Leverkusen, wins the ball back on the left and squares for Kroos. He chips the ball over the top for Lukas Podolski to latch on to and drive past Miller for an equaliser.

• 36′ POR 1-1 MOR: Boussoufa gets the ball into the Portuguese box for the first time in the game. Neither Bruno Alves or Pepe pick up the run of Marouane Chamakh who turns home a cross from close range.

• 38′ POR 2-1 MOR: Two and a half minutes elapse and Portugal win a corner. Hugo Viana whips an in-swinger to the near post where Pepe nods Portugal back in front.

• Half-Time: Jamaica 1-1 Germany, Portugal 2-1 Morocco. GER and POR qualifying.

• 50′ POR 3-1 MOR: Morocco fall asleep at another corner. Hugo Viana’s delivery drops towards the near post where Cristiano Ronaldo has an age to steady himself and slot the ball home.

• 55′ JAM 1-2 GER: Schürrle gets to the goal line and sends a teasing cross into the six-yard box for Mario Götze to get ahead of his man and put Germany in front from close range. Sixth goal for his country and one that could seal progression.

• 64′ JAM 2-2 GER: The Caribbean side have put the cat amongst the pigeons again with a great counter-attacking goal. Dawkins gets the ball back in the middle, plays it to McAnuff who lobs it over the back four for Ryan Johnson to chase down and slot past Neuer for an equaliser. A winner would send them through instead!

Portugal through undefeated as group winners, they’ll play Australia.
Germany survive a scare and set up a last sixteen match against Argentina.

DORTMUND PLAYER WATCH (All GER):
Mario Götze: Played 58: Scored 1, 2/2 shots, 15/24 passes (7.2)
Mats Hummels: Played 90: 34/38 pass, 4 intercept, 0 fouls (6.9)
Marcel Schmelzer: Pl. 90: 33/39 pass, 8/8 tackles, 6 int  (6.8)
Ilkay Gündogan: On 58' 20/23 passing, 2 shots, 4 crosses  (6.8)
Julian Schieber: On 66' 1 shot, 3/5 passes, 3/4 headers   (6.9)
- Andreas Beck and Marco Reus unused subs.

Germany 0-0 Portugal GROUP H (Match #31)

Germany have their resolute defence to thank after earning a 0-0 draw against a much more creative Portuguese side, a result that eliminates Morocco from Group H.

João Moutinho was involved in the first drama of the match, earning a caution for scything down Mario Götze and earning a caution that will see him ruled out of their  final group game against Morocco on Friday.

From the free-kick, André Schürrle had Germany’s only cut-and-dry chance of the game, forcing a good save from Eduardo from ten yards out.

Either side of the break, it was all Portugal, with Manuel Neuer showing why he’s rated as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe with a number of fine saves from Ronaldo, Pepe and Meireles.

The sides both ran out of steam as the second-half went on, and ultimately looked to settle for the point that keeps them both in the driving seat for progression to the knockout stages.

                  FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014
                       MATCH 31: GROUP H
                    
                      GERMANY 0-0 PORTUGAL

                           Brasilia

GROUP H      P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PTS
1. Germany   2  1  1  0  3  0  +3   4
2. Portugal  2  1  1  0  2  0  +2   4
3. Jamaica   2  1  0  1  1  2  -1   3
4. Morocco   2  0  0  2  0  4  -4   0   x

DORTMUND PLAYER WATCH (all GER):
Mario Götze - Pl 90' 1/14 cross accuracy, 0 shots.       (6.7)
Mats Hummels - Pl 90' 7/10 tackles, 10 int, 6/8 headers. (8.0)
Marcel Schmelzer - Pl 76' 3/3 tackles won, 1 key header. (6.9)
Julian Schieber - Pl last 14', no chances, 100% passing. (n/a)
 - Beck, Gündogan, Reus unused subs.

Portugal 2-0 Jamaica GROUP H (Match #15)

Portugal survived the tricky opening game against Jamaica thanks to two second-half goals from Pepe and Ronaldo, ahead of Group H favourites Germany’s match against Morocco tonight.

Other than a quick start out the blocks from the Jamaicans, it was pretty much one-way traffic for the rest of the match, though Portugal were kept at bay for the opening 45 minutes, despite João Moutinho rattling the crossbar with a free-kick early on.

The opening goal came in the 57th minute when Pereira’s long throw was flicked towards goal by Fernando. Dwayne Miller made a great save in the Jamaican goal, but only pushed the ball to Pepe who had a simple nodded finish from inside the six-yard box.

Quarter of an hour later and Portugal doubled the lead and sealed the three points when Jamaican skipper Jermaine Taylor brought down Fábio Coentrão in the box. Christiano Ronaldo slotted home from the spot for the first penalty scored of the tournament (Ashley Cole missed for England).

                  FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014
                       MATCH 15: GROUP H
                    
                     PORTUGAL 2-0 JAMAICA
                      Pepe 57
             Ronaldo (pen) 71

                          Porto Alegre

GROUP H          P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  Pts
1. Portugal      1  1  0  0  2  0  +2   3
2. Germany       0  0  0  0  0  0  +0   0
=. Morocco       0  0  0  0  0  0  +0   0
4. Jamaica       1  0  0  1  0  2  -2   0