Portugal end group in perfect fashion

Portugal completed 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 8 with a perfect record after defeating nine-man Azerbaijan.

Though a play-off place had long been secured, Portugal were keen for a good result to go into Friday's draw and potentially boost their seeding. However, they needed goals in the last eight minutes from Edgar Ié and Ricardo Esgaio to win with Ilter Tashkin and Shahriyar Aliyev sent off in between.

Early on Ricardo was denied from point-blank range by Shakhrudin Magomedaliyev after an Esagio cross but on 13 minutes another centre from the Sporting Clube de Portugal winger was half-cleared to Rafa Silva, who struck in from the edge of the box.

Magomedaliyev denied Marcos Lopes and Ricardo late in the first half and on 55 minutes Azerbaijan were level from virtually their only chance, Abdulla Abatsiyev's low free-kick deflecting in off the post. Portugal were not to be denied and with eight minutes to go a clearance fell to Ié, who volleyed in. The two Azerbaijan players were then dismissed and in added time substitute Carlos Mané was fouled in the box and Esgaio converted.