Portuguese prosper in the rain

Portugal 2-0 Scotland
UEFA EURO 2004™ hosts Portugal were not put off by pouring rain in Braga as they outplayed Scotland from the start to gain a comfortable friendly win.

Home side adapt well
The wet conditions had left the pitch covered in standing water, making flowing play difficult, but the home side, who had SL Benfica pair Ricardo Rocha and Tiago Mendes making their international debuts, took to the task quickly, and were two up within 17 minutes - having already missed a penalty.

Pauleta scores
After winning early corners, Portugal were ahead on seven minutes when Pauleta got on the end of Sergio Conceição's cross and put the ball past Scottish goalkeeper Rab Douglas.

Second goal
Luis Figo was given the chance to double the lead from the penalty spot six minutes later when Lee Wilkie handled in the area, but Douglas dived to his right to deny the Real Madrid CF player. However, Pauleta ensured the score was 2-0 on 17 minutes when he won a race with Maurice Ross for a through-ball and beat Douglas again.

Powerful drive
It got worse for Scotland not long afterwards when Russell Anderson was taken off on a stretcher with concussion to be replaced by Derek McInnes. On 27 minutes they did have a chance when Scott Dobie shot wide, and soon afterwards Graham Alexander forced Quim to palm away a powerful drive, but no Scottish striker was on hand to follow up.

Tiago Mendes close
Ex-SC Braga player Tiago Mendes hit the crossbar in the last of the first half's chances from Figo's cross, but as time wore on so did the pitch, making play even more difficult after the break.

Pace drops
Eleven minutes into the second half, Nuno Gomes seemed set to extend Portugal’s lead but his shot from ten metres somehow crept past the far post. However, the pace of the game gradually dropped, although in the last minutes Conceição shot over and Christian Dailly headed wide for Scotland from Alexander’s corner.

Win secure
Portugal – who are in talks with FIFA World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari – will be pleased to have another win under their belts in difficult circumstances, while Scotland coach Berti Vogts said after the game: "I think it was a very good experience for my team."