MATCH 10 REPORT : PORTUGAL RESTORE HOME PRIDE

Improved Portugal
Maniche seized on his FC Porto team-mate Deco's pass after seven minutes to fire in the first goal before Rui Costa converted fellow substitute Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross one minute from time as Portugal bounced back from their opening match defeat by Greece with a much-improved display. Russia had to play for over 45 minutes with ten men after goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov was sent off on the stroke of half-time for handling the ball outside the area.

Bulykin dropped
Both starting lineups revealed surprises. Russia's two enforced changes were no shock with Dmitri Loskov and Aleksei Bugaev coming in for the expelled Aleksandr Mostovoi and the suspended Roman Sharonov. But Georgi Yartsev's decision to drop Dmitri Bulykin and play FC Zenit St. Peterburg youngster Aleksandr Kerzhakov in attack supported by his fellow 21-year-old Marat Izmailov raised eyebrows among the Russian minority at the Estádio da Luz.

Porto quintet
Luiz Felipe Scolari provided yet more surprises. The decision to introduce Deco for Rui Costa in the playmaking role was expected but the defensive cull that saw Paulo Ferreira, Rui Jorge and Fernando Couto supplanted by Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho and Nuno Valente was less predictable. The net effect was the Portugal had five players from UEFA Champions League winners Porto lining up against club colleague Dmitri Alenitchev.

Maniche strikes
That Porto combination worked to wonderful effect for Portugal after just six minutes. The ball was worked to Deco from a Luís Figo free-kick and Porto's adopted son drilled a dangerous low ball into the box. Club colleague Maniche controlled superbly before firing into the bottom corner beyond Ovchinnikov for his first ever international goal.

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