Impressive Portugal down Denmark
Saturday, May 23, 2009
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Portugal 3-0 Denmark
The mini-tournament hosts made a fine start to Elite round Group 3 at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior with Arsenal FC's Rui Fonte among the scorers.
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Mini-tournament hosts Portugal made an impressive start to UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round Group 3 by defeating Denmark at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior.
Red card
Arsenal FC's Rui Fonte opened the scoring in the fifth minute, although it was not until midway through the second half that Ilídio Vale's team made sure of the points with Nuno Reis's 68th-minute effort, added to moments later by Diogo Rosado. Denmark ended with ten men following Morten Nielsen's dismissal seven minutes from time.
'Intelligent' play
"It was important to start this Elite round with a win as it is a short tournament with few matches," said Vale. "We played like we are used to doing – to win. It was not a brilliant game but the players were very intelligent and tactically the team was very good. Against Greece, the philosophy will be the same. We want to maintain the same attitude and intelligence." Turkey defeated Greece 2-1 in the day's other fixture and play Denmark on Monday, while Portugal meet Greece.