Unbeaten Portugal bow out

Portugal slipped out of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship as a third successive Group B draw allowed Scotland to snatch second position in the section and a place in the last four.

Capel delight
The Portuguese began the day on two points and looked set to progress as runners-up to their Iberian neighbours when Bruno Gama's first-half penalty put them in front in Pobiedziska. However, César Díaz's equaliser early in the second period denied the Portuguese three points and Scotland's 3-2 defeat of Turkey clinched their progress, although Carlos Dinis side do have the consolation of competing in next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Cool head
An early header brought a save from the Portuguese goalkeeper Igor Araújo as Spain started the brighter despite already having confirmed their place in the last four with wins in their first two fixtures. However, the complexion of the game changed when Portugal were awarded a penalty on 21 minutes as Ángel Bernabé was adjudged to have brought down Hélder Barbosa, giving Bruno Gama the chance to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Spain take command
Winger Antonio Calvo provided the main threat for Spain in the first half, showing good control and an impressive turn of pace. Having fallen behind, Spain stepped up their search for an equaliser as Esteban Granero clipped a neat ball through the middle for César Díaz, whose shot from wide would have had to be truly special to beat Igor Araújo. The Portuguese threat on the counterattack was emphasised just before the break when a wonderful sequence of one-touch passes finished with Diogo Tavares putting the ball in the net only to be denied by the offside flag. Two minutes after the restart there was no denying Spain and Díaz, when Calvo supplied yet another cross from the right and the No9 made no mistake with a close-range header.

Barbosa effort
As news that Scotland were winning filtered through, the Portuguese poured forward in search of the goal they needed to go through. On the hour Hélder Barbosa fired a low shot goalwards following a poor clearance but Bernabé was up to the task. The balance changed again as Spain brought on top-class substitutes such as Juan Mata and Jeffrén Suárez while Portugal wilted in temperatures touching 39C. Bruno Gama's long-range free-kick brought a sprawling save from Bernabé and the midfieder later fired another effort just too high, but there was to be no late drama and no reprieve for Portugal.