|
| January 14th 2005 |
Buenos Aires, Estadio Monumental
|
| PORTUGAL - NORTHERN IRELAND |
3-2 (1-2)
|
GOALS 20' 0-1 Norman Whiteside
28' 1-1 Eusebio
42' 1-2 George Best
75' 2-2 José Torres
83' 3-2 Eusebio
REFEREE Said Belqola (Morocco)
ATTENDANCE 77,000
YELLOW CARDS Joao Pinto I (POR) - Rice, Donaghy (NIR)
PORTUGAL (Coach: Otto Gloria, system 4-2-4)
1 Alberto Costa Pereira
2 Joao Pinto I
3 Fernando Couto
4 José Germano
5 Toni (-46)
11 Mario Coluna (captain)
10 Manuel Rui Costa (-66)
7 Luis Filipe Figo
8 Eusebio
9 José Torres (-90)
13 Antonio Simoes
Substitutes:
18 Manuel Dimas (+46)
17 Fernando Peyroteo (+66)
15 Jaime Graca (+90)
NORTHERN IRELAND (Coach: Tommy Doherty, system 4-3-3)
1 Pat Jennings
3 Pat Rice
5 William McCracken
6 Danny Blanchflower (captain)
18 Mal Donaghy (-72)
8 Norman Whiteside
15 Martin O'Neill
4 Sammy McIllroy
7 George Best
10 Derek Dougan (-58)
11 Peter McParland
Substitutes:
9 Gerry Armstrong (+58)
13 Sammy Nelson (+72)
MATCHREPORT
Buenos Aires turned out massively for this clash between Portugal, led by
Eusebio, and George Best's Northern Ireland. Eusebio and Best, maybe the two
biggest stars from the 60's. And it was to be an encounter between the
beautiful stylistic kind of play by Portugal and the willpower of Northern
Ireland. These ingredients produced a very fine match.
Northern Ireland slipped into the tournament through the backdoor. It
had been number 33 on the all-time list, but because Yugoslavia and
Croatia were melted to one country again, Northern Ireland were enabled to
take part. This was the ultimate chance for George Best to show what he
could do on the very highest level. Never in his illustrious, but rather
short career, had Northern Ireland made it to the finals. However, this team
wasn't one of the weaker brethern. On the contrary, from the beginning the
Irish put the pressure on the Portuguese defense. They set the pace and Best
was at his best. Toni had to make all sails, but Georgie was a class of his
own this evening. On the left flank, McParland was the better of Joao Pinto.
In midfield Coluna and Whiteside as well as McIllroy and Rui Costa waged an
interesting fight against each other.
Best's dribbles immediately paid off. In the 5th minute already he squeezed
past his man and offered Derek Dougan a chance that couldn't be missed. The
central striker did what was impossible: he missed. Shortly after a new
Best-effort was blocked by Portuguese goalkeeper Costa Pereira, but the
revenge was on its way. After 20 minutes Best decided not to dribble this
time, but to cross the ball quickly into the box. Costa Pereira came off his
line but missed it completely. Norman Whiteside, who had made a rush up
front, didn't. A header and it was 0-1, a surprise but certainly highly
deserved. It seemed as if Portugal, not for the first time, could not cope
with the high expectations.
Until that moment Eusebio hadn't been a factor of importancy in the match
and José Torres was inconspicuous but for his length. In midfield Northern
Ireland gave their opponents no single second time, so the strikers couldn't
be reached. But sheer class is never denied, and Eusebio showed it. The ball
was played to him, he had Blanchflower in his back but still succeeded in
breaking into the area. A shot from the turn, a bomb that left Jennings
stunning: 1-1 after 28 minutes, out of the blue. But don't think that Best
and his men would give in! With their well-know fighting spirit they came
back into the game. Best, by far the best man on the field, turned away from
Germano and got rid of Toni. Free for Costa Pereira. He made no mistake: 1-2.
Still coach Tommy Doherty thought that he could improve his side by bringing
on a new striker, and he substituted Derek Dougan - who had played badly - with
Gerry Armstrong, much more mobile which could be a great weapon against the
rather statical Germano and Couto. But after the break Portugal became
stronger and started dominating the match. Northern Ireland had ran out of
steam. They couldn't hold off anymore. Simoes and Figo got more and more
possession of the ball and Coluna now was the better of Whiteside. But the
Northern Ireland defense was strong. McCracken, who invited the offside
trap, kept on following Torres closely and Eusebio faced strong opposition
from O'Neill. Pat Jennings however now had some work to do but "The safest
hands in football" showed a decent form. No troubles for him with a header
from Torres and he calmly parried shots from Coluna and Germano.
It took until deep into the second half before the Portuguese efforts
resulted in a goal. Simoes flashed past Pat Rice. The pass came, and now
McCracken was one step too late and Torres exactly in time. Jennings was
helpless this time: 2-2. It was a tense fight, with good football and great
stamina from both teams. Portugal proved that they were capable of fighting,
too. It was as if the match started all over. Both teams attacked, Costa
Pereira and Jennings had no time to recover. Armstrong shot superbly from a
narrow angle, Costa Pereira shut the door. On the other end Figo had a neat
effort, but Jennings again kept his head cool. But the decision was in the
make and it came 7 minutes before the end. Simoes again ran past Rice and
Eusebio scored from the cross with his knee.
The Black Pearl had resumed his great shape from World Cup 1966, not as
dominant as then but still decisive with 2 goals. For Best, fantastic in the
first half but fading in the second, the outcome of this match was a big
blow in the face. He had shown that he belonged to the world's greatest
players, but this was about more than personal fame. Northern Ireland wanted
a place in the second round, and Portugal was their biggest rival to achieve
that. Against Cameroon they thought they would have a fair chance, but an
upset now was needed against Brazil. A sheer impossibility. Northern Ireland
had done what they could, but Portugal and Eusebio were just a mountain too
high for them.
Next Tuesday, a battle between two styles in group B. The Scottish Tartan
Army plays the technically gifted Yugoslavian team. They meet in Pasadena
under the burning Californian sun and under the guidance of Sandor Puhl who
led the World Cup final in 1994 in the same stadium. Scotland as always
consider themselves as a serious contender. However they have never made it to
the second stage. But this time they have great players with them like Alan
Morton, the wizard on the left wing. Yugoslavia have a fine team, relying on
a bunch of great quality up front. They will most certainly choose to attack
from the beginning. Hope to have you all back on Tuesday for this
entertaining match.
|
Menu
| Introduction | Squads | Matchstats | Statistics |
|
