UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Victory in vain for Portugal

Portugal 2-0 Austria Strikes in the second half from Bura and Daniel Carriço were not enough to keep Portugal in the competition.

Despite ending Group A with their first win of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Portugal failed to reach the semi-finals after defeating Austria to end the hosts' hopes.

Decisive stalemate
Both sides needed three points in Ried and assistance in the other concluding Group A match, but it was Portugal who controlled most of the game and went ahead through Bura's goal early in the second half. Daniel Carriço doubled the advantage with 20 minutes left, but it was not enough as Spain and Greece shared a goalless draw in Linz that took both into the last four with five points each. Portugal finished third with a point fewer, while Austria managed a single point and goal from their three matches.

Capacity crowd
A capacity crowd once again gave Austria vociferous backing, although Portugal came close to silencing that support in the ninth minute as Wolfgang Schober was forced to touch over João Gonçalves's long-range effort. Austria struggled to unpick a well-drilled Portugal defence in the opening stages, although Marc Sand twice had brief glimpses of goal. Portugal goalkeeper Hugo Ventura was not forced into genuine action until nine minutes before the interval, easily gathering Julian Baumgartlinger's low shot, but the effort seemed to spark Portugal into life with Schober producing a fine stop to keep out Ivan Santos's header before Orlando Sà and Daniel Candeias missed presentable opportunities.

Bura break
Austria coach Hermann Stadler introducted Matthias Lindner and Stefan Ilsanker at half-time and both might have struck in the early moments of the second half. Instead, it was Portugal who took the lead in the 51st minute as Bura struck a corner first-time past Schober from the edge of the penalty area. Baumgartlinger attempted to respond for Austria with a thunderous 20-metre effort only for their defence to be exposed again in the 70th minute as Carriço nodded past Schober.

Late chances
Austria might have been heading out of the finals but they were determined to end their campaign on a positive note and came close to pulling a goal back with 13 minutes left as Lindner struck the crossbar forcing Ventura to react smartly to keep out Jan-Marc Riegler's follow-up. Portugal came close to a third goal three minutes from time, Ivan Santos striking the left-hand post, but their satisfaction at a solid victory was cut short as news filtered through from Linz.