FRANKFURT, Germany, 18 June 2006 — Portugal waited 40 years to once again get beyond the first round of the World Cup.
Deco scored with a powerful first-time shot from outside the penalty area in the 63rd minute and Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty kick in the 80th to give the Portuguese team a 2-0 win over Iran yesterday.
That guaranteed advancement for Portugal, which last got so far in 1966 behind its greatest player, Eusebio.
Portugal finished third that year, but has struggled in soccer’s premier event ever since — including four years ago, when an opening loss to the United States led to a first-round elimination. Portugal has six points in Group D; it beat Angola 1-0 in its opening match.
“This is a historic moment for Portugal, the first time in 40 years it has come so far. We’re elated,” Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. “We played better than against Angola. We showed some of our skill today.” Portugal will next face Mexico, with a draw enough to take first place in the group.
Just as against Angola, the Portuguese failed to find their usual sparkle and allowed their opponents back into the match after a bright start. Then came the two second-half goals, both set up by Luis Figo.
In an otherwise disappointing display in his 122nd appearance, the Portugal captain broke down the left flank and passed inside for unmarked Deco to fire home. Deco had missed the opener with a leg muscle strain.
On another break down the left, Figo was brought down in the area by Yahya Golmohammadi for the penalty.
Pauleta almost stretched Portugal’s winning margin in the final minute of regular time when he went face-to-face with Mirzapour but the goalkeeper stretched out his right leg and knocked the ball wide.
Scolari made three midfield changes after his team failed to impress against Angola. Francisco Costinha, Maniche and Deco came in for Armando Petit, Tiago and Simao Sabrosa. Ronaldo was also included, even though he skipped two training sessions last week due to muscle fatigue. Iran fielded an offensive team in pursuit of its first win in Germany, though it left top striker Ali Daei out of its starting lineup, said to be due to a back strain.The match featured plenty of chances for the Portuguese team and occasional goalmouth threats from Iran.
Deco forced Ebrahim Mirzapour into a superb reflex save from close range in the 12th minute, the goalkeeper palming the ball away with his outstretched right hand. Then Ricardo Carvalho’s header from Figo’s corner kick went wide. Ronaldo started slowly but alarmed the Iranian defense twice in two minutes. The winger had a header chested off the line by Hossein Kaabi and then cut past three defenders from the right and hit a powerful shot wide of the post. Miguel broke down the right and produced a fierce shot that hit the Iran goalkeeper and went around the post.
