From Uefa.com PORTUGUESE NATIONAL SIDE EMBARASSED BY KUWAIT CLUB SIDE Al Salmiya
Kuwaiti club Al Salmiya surprised the Portugal national side by holding them 1-1 in a friendly on Tuesday.
Kuwait 1-1 Portugal
Portugal were forced to settle for a draw amid searing heat in Kuwait City after a late goal from Sulaiman Alshkiri cancelled out a João Tomás effort to earn Kuwait an unlikely result.
Tough conditions
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were missing several key players but the Selecção still managed to field a strong XI including Deco, Nani and Ricardo Quaresma. However, the UEFA EURO 2008™ contenders, who beat Belgium 2-1 on Saturday, struggled with the conditions and although Hélder Postiga hit the post in the first half, they had to wait until the 72nd minute to take the lead. João Tomás headed in Quaresma's cross yet it was not enough for victory as Alshkiri struck a fine free-kick just two minutes from time. Portugal resume their qualifying Group A campaign on 22 August when they travel to Armenia, trailing leaders Poland by five points with a game in hand.
Comments
Well done, Kuwait!!
Posted by: KEV | June 7, 2007 10:15 AM
The following just goes to show that it is not just the England players and management who cover themselves in spin and embarassment simultaneously.........
Luiz Filipe Scolari, Portugal coach
“This game was not even at half gas. Our big moment was in Belgium and that we won, and because of that I am not going to complain about anything. But clearly, the result does not please me.”
“We should have won. Our finishing was off target again, but now what interests us is the game with Armenia because it is worth three points and they are important for qualification to the European Championships.”
Joao Tomas, Portugal goalscorer
“Now we will rest and prepare ourselves for upcoming matches. How was a draw possible? It was possible because the conditions were difficult. They (Al-Salmiyah) are more used to this weather than we are.”
“We had opportunities to score more goals, but we ended up suffering one from a direct free kick. It was a game where we could have done more.”
Bosingwa, Portugal right-back
“It was not easy to play in this heat. We are not used to playing in these kinds of temperatures. Clearly, all of us wanted to win, but they were much more motivated.”
Deco, Portugal captain
“The result is natural due to the fatigue, the demands from the game against Belgium, the long flight and the intense heat that we have felt, but to lose prestige, never!”
(On wearing the captain’s armband) “I am very proud to have captained the Portugal national team for the first time.”
Posted by: KEV | June 7, 2007 10:21 AM