Portugal score two in win over South Africa

Portugal pulled out a win over South Africa 2-0 in a friendly after a disappointing result Saturday against Sweden. Portugal scored two goals from Deco corners one coming from centreal defender Bruno Alves and the other from an own goal by Twala. Queiroz was happy with the result and i'm sure glad that Portugal popped a few goals into the twine even if one was by a South African player

Portugal goalless run continues with tie to Sweden

Portugal's World Cup qualifying campaign took another blow as they were held scoreless at home by Sweden. The Portuguese controlled the play for most part of the game but could not penetrate the Swedish defense. Queiroz started this game with an unusual lineup playing with 5 natural defenders and 5 natural midfielders but the team did achieve the ball control that the coach was looking for. Portugal's best chance came late in the game with a Ronaldo header just missing the net, Rolando came in the first half for an injured Bosingwa.Portugal has now gone three games in a row without a goal and sits tied with Albania and Sweden at six points for third spot trailing Denmark and Hungary by four points. The Portuguese will not play a group game until they take on Albania on June 6, 2009 looking to avenge a pitiful 0-0 draw at home to them

WCQ Rosters: Portugal-Sweden

Portugal Squad:

Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Bochum), Beto (Leixoes)

Defenders: Bosingwa (Chelsea), Goncalo Brandao (Siena), Nelson (Real Betis), Pepe (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Ricado Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto), Duda (Malaga)

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Maniche (A. Madrid), Tiago (Juventus)

Forwards: C. Ronaldo (Man United), Danny (Zenit), Nani (Man. United), Simao (A.Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Edinho (AEK Athens)

Sweden Squad:

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV), Eddie Gustafsson (Salzburg), Johan Wiland (FC Copenhagen)

Defenders: Erik Edman (Wigan), Andreas Granqvist (Groningen), Petter Hansson (Rennes), Adam Johansson (IFK Goteborg), Daniel Majstorovic (AEK Athens), Olof Mellberg (Juventus), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos), Behrang Safari (Basel).

Midfielders: Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Rasmus Elm (Kalmar FF), Viktor Elm (Heerenveen), Samuel Holmen (Brondby), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al-Hilal), Rasmus Lindgren (Ajax).

Strikers: Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen), Henrik Larsson (Helsingborg), Johan Elmander (Bolton), Marcus Berg (Groningen)

Benfica fined for fans actions against Sporting

Benfica has been fined for their fans action during play in the Carlsberg Cup Final against Sporting. Benfica have been fined $1,950 euros by the Disciplinary Commission of the League for their fans repeated misconduct during the matchup.

FC Porto win first semi-final leg over Amadora

FC Porto have won their first leg semi-final over Amadora 2-0 today as Lucho continued his fine form this season with the opening marker on a penalty kick and Raul Meireles scored the other for Porto who will face Amadora in the second leg April 22/09 with the winner of this matchup moving on to take on the winner of P.Ferreira-Nacional which tied their first leg 2-2.

Benfica win heated Carlsberg Cup Final in PKs

Benfica and Sporting clashed in a heated affair at the Algarve Stadium for the Carlsberg Cup Champion of 2008-09 season. Sporting took the lead on a goal by Pereirinha before a controversial penaly kick awarded to Benfica on a hand ball and converted by Jose A Reyes lead to the game finishing squared at 1-1. Benfica missed a golden chance to win the game as Pedro Silva was awarded a red card on the same controversial call after bumping the referee but Benfica pulled it through on PKs with Carlos Martins scoring the winner

Champions League Quarter Final Matchups announced

The Champions League Quarter Final Matchups announced earlier today.

FC Porto vs Manchester United

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona

Chelsea vs Liverpool

Arsenal vs Villareal

The matchups will take place first leg April 7/8 2009 and second leg April 14/15 2009

FC Porto continue winning ways

FC Porto continue their winning ways and run at the top of the Superliga with a 2-0 victory over Naval. M. Gonzalvez and Lucho scored for Porto today and now FC Porto are unbeaten in 15 games going all the way back to a loss in its first encounter with Naval 1-0 this season in November

Guimaraes stun Benfica at the Luz

Guimaraes go into the Estadio da Luz and hand the hosts their first home loss of the season 1-0. Benfica had command of this game for the most part and great runs by Di Maria and Reyes were wasted time and time again as Benfica could not capitalize. Guimaraes then scored on a counter attack in the second half were Roberto beat Moreira to the far side to give the visitors the victory. The loss is a crushing blow to Benfica's title hopes as Porto with a win can move five points clear.

Tickets go on Sale for Carlsberg Cup Final

Benfica and Sporting will clash in the Carlsberg Cup Finals on March 21/09 at 7.45pm local time at the Algarve Stadium. Tickets for the event went on sale yesterday, tickets are said to cost in the range of $10 to $20 Euros

Portugal announce squad for South Africa friendly

Portugal announce squad for South Africa friendly on March 31/09


Goalkeepers: Hilario (Chelsea), Beto (Leixoes), Ricardo (Betis), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting), Daniel Fernandes (Bochum)

Defenders: Goncalo Brandao (Siena), Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Jose Goncalves (Nuremberg), Bruno Alves & Rolando (FC Porto), Nelson (Betis), Pepe (Real Madrid), Miguel (Valencia), Andre Marques (Setubal)

Midfielders: Simao Sabrosa & Maniche (At. Madrid), Deco and Quaresma (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Danny (Zenit), Fernando Meira (Galatasaray), Tiago (Juventus), Eliseu and Duda (Malaga), Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd), Pedro Mendes (Rangers), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Manuel Fernandes (Valencia)

Forwards: Edinho (AEK), Silvestre Varela (E. Amadora), Orlando Sa (Braga), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Helder Postiga (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)

Benfica lucky in win over Naval

Benfica had their hands full in this matchup against Naval, after giving up an early goal to Pablo Aimar, Naval pushed Benfica to the limits and controlled most of the play the rest of the way in the first half and much of the second half. Marcelinho tied the game for Naval and Benfica were on the brink of crashing on the the road until a set play by Jose A Reyes resulted in Greek international Katsouranis restoring Benfica's lead in the 75th minute. The goal looked to take the steam out of Naval's play and Benfica pulled out the victory 2-1. Benfica now regains the second spot in the Superliga two points behind Porto.

FC Porto and Sporting keep moving forward

FC Porto continue their run on top of the Superliga Standings after a crushing defeat of former top spot holders Leixoes 4-1. Lucho on a PK, Hulk, Raul Meireles and Farias scored in the game for Porto while Leixoes' D. Valente added one late to break the shutout. Porto are guaranteed another week in top spot with nine games left in the season. Sporting meanwhile defeated Pacos Ferreira 2-0 on goals by Leidson and Derlei and currently sit in second spot four points behind the leaders. FC Porto and Sporting will both be in action in Champions League play this week

Leandro Grimi has successful surgery

Sporting's Argentinian left back Grimi had successful surgery in Portugal this week, removing a lesion in his left knee and will not be able to train for at least four months.

Ruben Amorim and Carlos Martins ruled out of Naval matchup

Ruben Amorim and Carlos Martins have been ruled out of this weekends matchup versus Naval. The Benfica wingers were both injured in Benfica's recent victory of Leixoes.
Amorim was replaced in the matchup after suffering an injury by Martins who then was injured later on in the game.