Costinha goal costs England

England 1-1 Portugal
Alan Smith scored his first goal for England before a defensive lapse forced the hosts to settle for a 1-1 friendly draw with EURO 2004™ hosts Portugal at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday.

Costinha equaliser
Smith celebrated his first England start with his first international goal in the 40th minute, heading home a cross from Lee Bowyer on his Leeds United AFC team mate's debut, only for unmarked substitute Costinha to nod a 79th-minute equaliser.

Portugal rally
England, playing their first match since losing to Brazil in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, had looked convincing for much of the match, particularly after wholesale changes by Sven-Göran Eriksson at the break. But they were made to pay as Portugal, who failed to get past the group stage of the World Cup, rallied in the last 30 minutes.

Early chances
Bowyer, Nicky Butt and Smith all tried their luck before the first clear-cut chance fell to Butt in the 17th minute, though he failed to meet Emile Heskey's square pass with a clean shot and the effort was deflected away by Fernando Meira. Portugal, comfortable on the ball and spurred forward by Luis Figo, came close through the Real Madrid CF midfield player's low 20-metre drive and a swashbuckling run and shot from Sérgio Conceição.

Smith beats Baia
But Smith made no mistake before the break when he rounded off a move started by goalkeeper David James's long throw upfield with a bullet header past the helpless Vítor Baía. Bowyer showed plenty of energy as he took over injured skipper David Beckham's position on the right.
 
Wholesale changes
Both managers made wholesale changes at the break, tearing much of the shape from the game. England, beaten by the Portuguese 3-2 in their opening group game at EURO 2000™, lived dangerously in the opening minutes after the restart when Meira hit the crossbar with one header and Nuno Gomes sent another against the post.

Rearguard exposed
Substitute Luis Pereira then raked in a low ball across the face of the England goal, but Gomes just failed to connect with James at his mercy. The changes in England's rearguard were exposed in the 79th minute when Costinha was given a completely free header from a corner and directed his effort just inside the left-hand post.

Warm-up match
England, who were without Sol Campbell, Kieron Dyer, Paul Scholes as well as Beckham, were using the game as preparation for their EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign, which starts next month in Slovakia. As hosts Portugal do not need to qualify for the finals.