Day 13: Portugal vs. Mexico

Portugal 2 -- Mexico 1

#18 MANICHE (Portugal) 6'
#11 SIMAO SABROSA (Portugal) 24' (pen)
#17 JOSE FONSECA (Mexico) 29'


In another deadbeat game to decide the winner of a group, Portugal outclassed Mexico as they beat them by a goal's margin. Simao Sabrosa found a charging Maniche in the box to poke it in the top side of the goal to give the Portugese the lead. Rafael Marquez handled the ball off a corner when there was no need to do so, and Portugal were duly awarded the spot kick. Sabrosa turned from provider to scorer as he stepped up to take the kick and converted very comfortable. Not to be outdone Mexico came back in the 29th minute off a corner which found a leaping Jose Fonseca who slotted home the goal with no problem into the far side of the netting. That would do it for an exciting half as the two sides exhanged salvoes on the field, and Mexico came close to levelling the score off a penalty but sadly Omar Bravo's kick sailed way past the goal line. Mexico then attacked the Portugese goal with ferocity but despite that they were unable to convert it into any real scoring opportunity. It would not really matter who won this game or not, because the two teams advancing from Group E would be Holland or Argentina and both are pretty darn strong.