Portugal prove too good for Moldova
Thursday, September 1, 2011
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Moldova 0-2 Portugal
Portugal captain Rui Fonte put the seal on a comfortable victory for the visitors in what was the teams' first fixture in qualifying Group 6.
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Second-half goals from João Pereira and captain Rui Fonte earned Portugal victory against Moldova in their UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying opener.
Only the expertise of goalkeeper Denis Rusu ensured the Group 6 encounter was goalless at the break, but he was powerless to keep out Pereira's header ten minutes after the restart. Fonte made sure the points went to Portugal late on, turning in the rebound after Rusu had saved a Diogo Viana effort.
Rusu had frustrated Rui Oliveira's men with two saves in the final throes of the first period, thwarting Diogo Rosado twice in the space of four minutes. Fonte then directed a header against the crossbar from a left-wing cross, before Pereira showed him the way it should be done when he finished off Rúben Ferreira's delivery.
Fonte's 90th-minute goal on the break ensured Portugal could breathe easily and set the visitors up nicely for their next qualifier, on 6 October, against Poland.
