National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Slovenia's Baltazar Lenarčič started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 7th minute Ricardo Nascimento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Valmi Puh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Slovenia's Valmi Puh played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Afonso Magalhães in the 9th minute of play. Baltazar Lenarčič fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Diamantino Campos having to interfere. Semir Cijan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Diamantino Campos tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Valmi Puh made an important save on a dangerous shot by Augusto Bessa in the 14th minute. When Afonso Magalhães came up free with the goalie in the 15th minute, the Portugal fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Afonso Magalhães couldn't finish the play. 20 minutes into the match, Portugal's goal looked a bit too open when Valter Birsa came free, but Diamantino Campos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 21st minute, Ricardo Nascimento managed to get in a good position for a shot. Portugal's supporters rose to their feet, but Ricardo Nascimento was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Valmi Puh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ricardo Nascimento who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 23rdth minute tested the skills of Valmi Puh when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 25 minutes into the match, Slovenia's goal looked a bit too open when Ricardo Nascimento came free, but Valmi Puh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 26 played minutes Slovenia got a freekick which was hit by Valter Birsa. The audience thought a goal was coming when Afonso Magalhães got free with Valmi Puh in the 27th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ricardo Nascimento struck a weak shot in the 28th minute. Valmi Puh didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Portugal. Portugal's Afonso Magalhães got a good chance for a goal in the 30th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 35 played minutes Portugal got a freekick which was hit by Augusto Bessa. Portugal's Diamantino Campos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Baltazar Lenarčič in the 36th minute of play. When Nermin Smrtnik fell near the penalty area in the 38th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Slovenia's protests and gave Nermin Smrtnik a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Portugal booed when Slovenia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nermin Smrtnik didn't get a good kick on the ball. Augusto Bessa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 39th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Ricardo Nascimento received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Valmi Puh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Baltazar Lenarčič hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. Valmi Puh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ricardo Nascimento, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Semir Cijan kicked well hit freekick during the 47th minute of the match. In the 49th minute, Semir Cijan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.
Diamantino Campos had great luck who in the 58thth minute grab hold of the ball when Vehbija Meklav from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. The audience was convinced that Ricardo Nascimento's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Valmi Puh was relentless in the 59th minute of the game. In the 65th minute Semir Cijan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Diamantino Campos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Valmi Puh showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Afonso Magalhães in the 66th minute of the match. In the 68th minute Ricardo Nascimento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Valmi Puh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Slovenia's Vinko Car was substituted for Valter Birsa. Slovenia's Danče Potočin was substituted for Duško Kotnik. Diamantino Campos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Semir Cijan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Augusto Bessa kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. Valmi Puh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Afonso Magalhães, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Portugal's Diamantino Campos proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 80th minute of the match, managed to save Portugal from getting a goal against them. Diamantino Campos made a fantastic save in the 80th minute, when Vehbija Meklav sent off a good shot on target. Valmi Puh made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Afonso Magalhães in the 84th minute of play. Diamantino Campos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vinko Car, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 90 played minutes Slovenia got a freekick which was hit by Baltazar Lenarčič. The audience thought a goal was coming when Vehbija Meklav got free with Diamantino Campos in the 93rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Vehbija Meklav kicked well hit freekick during the 97th minute of the match. In the 99th minute Ricardo Nascimento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Valmi Puh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. For all the effort they put into the match, the Slovenia players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Portugal.
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