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Euro 2008: Switzerland disappoints Portugal in 2-0 defeat
Mon. June 16, 2008 09:31 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) Switzerland notched their first win at European Championship finals when it least mattered by beating a second-string side from Euro 2008 quarter-finalists Portugal 2-0 on Sunday.
Hakan Yakin scored both goals, firing home in the 71st minute when he was set up by fellow striker Eren Derdiyok and then converting an 83rd minute penalty.
The commitment showed by Portugal's reserves, looking to win a place in Luiz Felipe Scolari's first team, and the eliminated Swiss belied the fact that the result would not alter the Group A standings.
The Swiss had the first real scare in the 18th minute when a free kick by Nani from outside the box was touched on by central defender Pepe and goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler could only turn the ball upwards on to the angle of bar and post.
Ricardo, one of only three first-choice Portugal players to start the match, tipped a shot from Gokhan Inler over his bar and close to halftime dived to his left to push out a header by Yakin.
Helder Postiga should have scored when Nani robbed Inler on the left and crossed from deep but the striker's shot was blocked by Philippe Senderos on the line.
Postiga also had the ball in the net but was unlucky to be ruled offside.
Nani hit the near post in the 53rd minute from the left when he ran on to Rau Meireles's fine pass from deep.
Yakin broke the deadlock when Derdiyok's telling pass eluded Pepe and left him with only keeper Ricardo to beat from point blank range.
He put the game beyond doubt from the spot after Meira brought down Swiss substitute Tranquillo Barnetta. –Agencies
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