Portugal qualified for the World Cup knock-out stages for the first time in 40 years on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Iran.
Iran offered robust resistance for more than an hour before Brazilian-born Deco’s unstoppable opener. Cristiano Ronaldo settled the matter with a penalty 10 minutes from the end.
The win guarantees Portugal’s progress from Group D but ends Iran’s interest in the competition, leaving Mexico and Angola in contention for the other qualification spot.
It is the first time Portugal has made it past the first round since 1966, when Eusebio inspired them to third place in England.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said the players were elated to move into the next stage.
”It’s the first time for 40 years that they have gone so far. We are delighted,” he said.
”We still want to beat Mexico to ensure first place in the group.”
Portugal will top the group if they draw with Mexico in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday.
The match got off to a bad-tempered start before Portugal’s class told in the 63rd minute. Cutting in from the left, captain Luis Figo laid off to Deco whose first-time shot sailed into the right corner, giving Iran’s goalkeeper no chance.
Iran were not done and Vahid Hashemian’s powerful header forced a smart stop from Ricardo.
But it was all over when captain Yahya Golmohammadi sent his opposite number Figo tumbling in the box, allowing Ronaldo to step up and bury his penalty in the top right-hand corner.
Portugal were mostly on the attack throughout the game, enjoying the best of the action in an ill-tempered first period when some heavy challenges brought protests from Scolari on the sideline.
Portugal went close near half-time when Miguel’s run and shot from an acute angle squirmed under goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour and bounced across the face of goal.
Early on, Figo picked out Deco in the box but his fierce shot was palmed away. Figo also floated a free-kick to Maniche but his volley from distance was headed over by the Iranian defence.
The trick-filled Ronaldo enjoyed a busy first half, juggling the ball on the edge of the area at one point.
He skimmed the outside of the post and blazed one over but cut a frustrated figure at half-time after a series of decisions went Iran’s way.
Iran’s action was mainly restricted to set-pieces, although Javad Nekounam hit the post before being ruled offside.
Ronaldo continued to shine after the break, forcing a sharp save from Mirzapour at his near post.
Pauleta tried to meet a Nuno Valente cross with the outside of his right boot but the flick flew over.
At the other end, Iran came close when a long ball found Rasoul Khatibi in the area but his shot went across the face of the goal.
But Portugal’s second goal broke Iranian resolve and, with centre-half Golmohammadi subbed off injured, they finished the match on the defensive.
Pauleta had a chance to increase his record goals tally in the final minutes but shot tamely, and Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for offside on the whistle.
The Portuguese, who beat Angola 1-0 in their opening game, also appeared in the 1986 and 2002 tournaments but failed to get past the first round.
Iran went down 3-1 to Mexico in their first game and have now only won one World Cup match in three visits, a 2-1 win over the United States in 1998, although they at least have a chance to rectify that when they meet Angola in Leipzig on Wednesday. – AFP
