Horst Hrubesch's side suffered a record defeat at Under-21s level as they shipped five goals in a resounding result at Andruv Stadion, with a three-goal half-time lead unassailable
Portugal stormed into the final of the Under-21s European Championship after an emphatic 5-0 victory over early tournament favourites Germany.
Rui Jorge's side took a strangehold on the game in the first half when they entered the break with a three-goal lead courtesy of Bernardo Silva, Ricardo and Ivan Calaleiro.
Joao Mario scored 48 seconds after the restart while second-half substitute Ricardo Horta rounded off the win with a fifth, before Leonardo Bittencourt was dismissed after a second yellow card.
Jorge had selected the same team that drew with Sweden but Tiago Illori, who was carrying a thigh injury, was forced out of the squad at the last minute and replaced by Tobias Figueiredo.
Germany made just one change from their 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic as Horst Hrubesch opted to bring Johannes Geis into a five-man midfield in the place of Max Meyer.
With an identical record of one win and two draws in the group stages, both sides remained evenly matched in the early stages, with a place in the final at Eden Stadium at stake.
Yet a first sight on goal on 15 minutes sparked danger for Germany as Ricardo pulled the ball back to Portugal captain Sergio Oliveria on the edge of the box, whose side-footed effort struck the post.
And while Marc-Andre ter Stegen may have been saved by his goalpost on that occasion, he was given no such help moments later when beaten at his near post in a finely worked move. Silva was the instigator, who turned his marker and flicked the ball into the feet of Ricardo near the halfway line before racing onto the return pass and drilling it past the Barcelona stopper.
That opened the floodgates as Portugal doubled their lead shortly after when Silva’s corner was flicked on by Paulo Oliveira and into the path on the unmarkedRicardo for a tap-in at the back post.
Portugal were now in the ascendency although they still needed Jose Sa in goal to make a smart save from Amin Younes on the edge of the area, diving well to his left to palm his shot out for a corner.
Just minutes before half-time, Calaleiro added a third to capitalise on their dominance, crashing an effort into the roof of the net when Joao Mario rolled the ball into his path inside the area.
Germany welcomed the half-time whistle as Hrubesch made an alteration at the break and introduced Meyer in the place of Geis but, just 48 seconds after the restart, they conceded a fourth. Silva carried the ball across goal, picking out Ricardo inside the area, who in turn teed up Mario for a powerful strike from distance which deflected into the top corner of the net off Dominique Heintz.
A fourth goal allowed Jorge to withdraw Silva to a rapturous applause from the Portugal supporters, who saw the Monaco midfielder cause problems to the German defence with every attack.
Portugal added a fifth when substitute Bittencourt's failed clearance found Joao Cancelo on the edge of the box, whose left-wing cross was flicked in at the near post by Horta.
Bittencourt was dismissed minutes later for a second yellow card after a foul on Cancelo, adding to a disastrous night for Hrubesch's side as Portugal secured their first cup final place since 1994.
Rui Jorge's side took a strangehold on the game in the first half when they entered the break with a three-goal lead courtesy of Bernardo Silva, Ricardo and Ivan Calaleiro.
Joao Mario scored 48 seconds after the restart while second-half substitute Ricardo Horta rounded off the win with a fifth, before Leonardo Bittencourt was dismissed after a second yellow card.
Jorge had selected the same team that drew with Sweden but Tiago Illori, who was carrying a thigh injury, was forced out of the squad at the last minute and replaced by Tobias Figueiredo.
Germany made just one change from their 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic as Horst Hrubesch opted to bring Johannes Geis into a five-man midfield in the place of Max Meyer.
With an identical record of one win and two draws in the group stages, both sides remained evenly matched in the early stages, with a place in the final at Eden Stadium at stake.
Yet a first sight on goal on 15 minutes sparked danger for Germany as Ricardo pulled the ball back to Portugal captain Sergio Oliveria on the edge of the box, whose side-footed effort struck the post.
And while Marc-Andre ter Stegen may have been saved by his goalpost on that occasion, he was given no such help moments later when beaten at his near post in a finely worked move. Silva was the instigator, who turned his marker and flicked the ball into the feet of Ricardo near the halfway line before racing onto the return pass and drilling it past the Barcelona stopper.
That opened the floodgates as Portugal doubled their lead shortly after when Silva’s corner was flicked on by Paulo Oliveira and into the path on the unmarkedRicardo for a tap-in at the back post.
Portugal were now in the ascendency although they still needed Jose Sa in goal to make a smart save from Amin Younes on the edge of the area, diving well to his left to palm his shot out for a corner.
Just minutes before half-time, Calaleiro added a third to capitalise on their dominance, crashing an effort into the roof of the net when Joao Mario rolled the ball into his path inside the area.
Germany welcomed the half-time whistle as Hrubesch made an alteration at the break and introduced Meyer in the place of Geis but, just 48 seconds after the restart, they conceded a fourth. Silva carried the ball across goal, picking out Ricardo inside the area, who in turn teed up Mario for a powerful strike from distance which deflected into the top corner of the net off Dominique Heintz.
A fourth goal allowed Jorge to withdraw Silva to a rapturous applause from the Portugal supporters, who saw the Monaco midfielder cause problems to the German defence with every attack.
Portugal added a fifth when substitute Bittencourt's failed clearance found Joao Cancelo on the edge of the box, whose left-wing cross was flicked in at the near post by Horta.
Bittencourt was dismissed minutes later for a second yellow card after a foul on Cancelo, adding to a disastrous night for Hrubesch's side as Portugal secured their first cup final place since 1994.
No comments:
Post a Comment