Courtesy: UEFA.com

Portugal warm up with wins

Thursday 1 November 2007

by Nuno Tavares from Porto

Hosts Portugal are firing on all cylinders ahead of the 2007 UEFA European Futsal Championship after 12-3 and 6-1 friendly wins against Greece at the Multiusos Gondomar Coração de Ouro, which will stage 14 of the 16 finals games from 16 to 25 November.

Free scoring
Orlando Duarte's men showed no mercy on Tuesday night and scored seven goals in just 17 minutes, with Ricardinho claiming a hat-trick, Marcelinho striking twice, and Formiga and Gonçalo Alves also on target. Spyridon Gritzalis and Sokratis Mourdoukoutas did pull two back for Greece before the break, but Portugal built on their lead in the second half thanks to three goals from Ivan, one from Leitão and another by Marcelinho to complete his treble. Panagiotis Morfesis was Greece's only goalscorer after the interval.

Closer encounter
It was a bit closer the following night, but Portugal were still 4-0 up at half-time courtesy of two Leitão goals and one each by Ivan and Marcelinho. Ricardinho struck twice in three second-half minutes to extend the advantage before a late Ioannis Mostrios consolation. Portugal coach Duarte said: "Tonight our main objective was not to concede any goals and I'm not satisfied because we didn't manage that. We attacked with more caution and that's the way to win championships." Portugal's next game will be the opening match of the finals in Group A against Italy.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com