Portugal Vs. Turkey Match Report

Second-half goals from Pepe and substitute Raul Meireles ensured Portugal got their Euro 2008 campaign off to a winning start against Turkey at the Stade de Geneve.

Man of the match Pepe sent the Portuguese fans into raptures on the hour with a well-taken goal, playing a neat one-two with captain Nuno Gomes before lifting his shot over Volkan Demirel.

Raul Meireles made the points safe in stoppage time when he slotted home following a quick counter-attack involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's team will count themselves unlucky not to have won by a greater margin after hitting the woodwork three times.

Ronaldo saw his 35-yard free-kick brilliantly tipped onto the post by Turkey goalkeeper Volkan seven minutes before the interval and Nuno Gomes was twice denied by the woodwork after the break.

But two goals were enough to see Portugal move top of Group A on goal difference from Czech Republic, who edged co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 in the tournament's curtain-raiser earlier in the day in Basle.

The first 45 minutes in Geneva were an open affair but, apart from Ronaldo's set-piece, neither goalkeeper was unduly troubled.

Jose Bosingwa struck a low cross into the side-netting in the second minute following a promising move down the right.

Chelsea's new signing then provided Ronaldo with his first sight of goal, the 23-year-old cutting in from the right but blazing a left-footed shot high over the crossbar in the sixth minute.

Turkey appealed for a penalty seven minutes later when Tuncay Sanli went down under the challenge of Bosingwa but German referee Herbert Fandel waved away their claims.

Real Madrid defender Pepe thought he had put the Euro 2004 finalists ahead in the 17th minute when he headed home following Simao Sabrosa's corner but his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

Nihat Kahveci saw his free-kick from just outside the area deflected narrowly wide as the game continued to flow from end to end.

Simao had the next opportunity, but curled his free-kick just over the bar after Deco's progress had been halted by Mehmet Aurelio.

Ronaldo almost conjured up a moment of magic on the half-hour, weaving his way past four players only to drag his right-footed effort wide.

Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan then stepped up to keep out Ronaldo's blistering free-kick and Moutinho lashed over from 10 yards, but the deadlock was not to be broken in the first half.

The second period began in lively fashion. Nuno Gomes poked a first-time shot against the post with the referee having played a good advantage following a hefty challenge on Simao from Gokhan Zan.

Portugal coach Scolari was beginning to get animated on the touchline at his team's failures in the final third.

Ronaldo sought to rectify that by fending off the attentions of Hamit Altintop and breaking clear on the left 11 minutes after the break, but again he saw his shot kept out by Volkan.

Moutinho's swerving attempt was too high to worry the keeper but, although Turkey substitute Sabri Sarioglu also let fly from long range, Portugal did not have much longer to wait for the breakthrough.

Pepe's tidy finish was followed almost immediately by a glancing Nuno Gomes header from Ronaldo's cross.

It struck the crossbar with Volkan rooted to the spot as Portugal looked to further capitalise on their superiority.

Turkey looked to be getting frustrated as the Portuguese asserted their authority, with Sabri's over-zealous appeals for handball against Simao on the edge of the area earning the Galatasaray defender a yellow card.

With only one goal in it, however, Portugal could not afford to relax and were almost pegged back nine minutes from time but Turkey substitute Emre Asik headed wide when in acres of space.

Tuncay also had a chance to nick a point towards the end but completely missed his kick.

And the door was firmly closed on Turkey in stoppage time when Meireles sealed matters.