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Euro 2008: Portugal beats Turkey 2-0 in opening
Sun. June 08, 2008 01:50 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) Portugal earned a 2-0 victory over Turkey on the opening day of Euro 2008 on Saturday with Defender Pepe shining with a brilliant goal and Raul Meireles adding a late second one.
Pepe powered through the Turkish defence in the 61st minute, exchanged a one-two with Nuno Gomes and held off a challenge as he struck home. Meireles' second wrapped up victory deep into stoppage time.
Defender Pepe had a goal disallowed for offside in the 17th minute and Portugal struck the woodwork no less than three times - once through Cristiano Ronaldo and twice through Nuno Gomes - in a Group A match they thoroughly dominated.
Portugal go top of the group ahead of Czech Republic, who earlier beat the co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 in Basel.
At the half-time, the two sides were locked goalless after a lively and action-packed opening half.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost put Portugal in front in the 38th minute when his free-kick from the left skidded off the turf and might have gone inside the far post if diving goalkeeper Volkan Demirel had not got a slight touch.
Portugal had the ball in Volkan's net in the 17th minute when centre back Pepe headed in a cross from the left but a goal was ruled out for offside.
Turkey created half chances with some fast counter-attacks and they squandered a free-kick from a good position minutes after Pepe's effort.-Agencies
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