Home boys finally deliver

Portugal 2 Russia 0In Lisbon the Atlantic Ocean is nature's air-conditioner, its gentle breezes fanning the city by day and cooling it by night. Except, that is, the atmospheric hot spot which is the Estadio da Luz. Last night the air was thick and humid, heavy with electricity and laden with expectation. Portugal could barely fill their lungs.

In the end they emerged with what they came for, a win which keeps them alive and kicking. Russia, their troubled visitors, go into the weekend as the whipping boys of the group.

It was an evening when the promise which this team has long possessed was finally delivered upon. At times Portugal played sweet, intoxicating football which threatened to overwhelm the Russians. At other moments they looked tentative and stage-struck, but less so than in their calamitous opener against Greece last weekend.

And the big names did what it says on the label. There are those (they live mainly in Catalonia) who see Luis Figo as no more than a vulgar mercenary. Which is a pity, because within the context of the modern game he is one of those rare cerebral beings who brings dignity to his surroundings and intelligence to his game.

Last night, feted in his own land and apparently anxious to make repayments for the affection bestowed upon him, he began the game at top speed and ran himself into the ground thereafter. His accomplice in almost everything was Deco.

Instead of having mean-spirited little referendums, perhaps we should be examining how we can acquire our share of Decos. A Brazilian both by birth and by footballing inclination, he was facilitator and factotum for Figo last night. Every time the older man thoughtfully prodded the ball forward on the left wing, Deco would speed across his line of vision, making blinding, diagonal runs. Which had poor Evseev, the right back, mesmerised.

It took only seven minutes for Deco to make the difference. Scooting out towards the right wing for a change, he latched on to the loose ball and played a firm pass in-field to Maniche who swivelled and planted it home from the vicinity of the penalty spot. Inquiries are proceeding as to the whereabouts of the Russian defence at the time.

Thereafter Maniche's contribution was as significant as any other on the night. The Porto midfielder is still establishing himself as a figure in the national side, but he continued the thread of a fine season for his club with his third goal for the national side and his confidence and assurance was luminous from that moment on.

Confidence and assurance, unfortunately, were what Russia lacked for long spells. Defeat leaves them pointless after two games and out of the running. They will travel home riven by controversy and personality clashes.

For a country with a population just short of 150 million the Russians certainly face some alarming shortages. Centre halves for one thing. The three first-choice bouncers were off last night, and even the jumpy Portuguese felt confident facing the rest.

And of course they've had their own little Keano affair, sending home their most experienced player, Mostovoi, for telling the newspapers that the training was too hard.

Then Smertin got himself booked early on, making it two yellows from two games. He shall be doing nothing when the Sabbath comes around.

As shall Ovchinnikov, the hapless goalkeeper. Late in the half Sennikov, in what one can only presume was a moment borne out of private spite, sent a diagonal back pass in the broad direction of Ovchinnikov. The ball trickled towards the area. Pauleta was in on it like a fox spotting a stray chicken. Ovchinnikov had little choice but to leave his area. Replays later suggested that he protected the ball without handling it and didn't make contact with the attacker.

To the naked eye, though, the foul looked blatant. The referee flashed the red rectangle instantly. The goalkeeper duly made a theatrical production out of his walk to the sideline, so much so that he almost got assaulted by an irate fan.

After the break the 10 remaining Russians seemed oddly encouraged, or just plainly desperate. One or the other. Karkaya and Loskov, taking note of the numerical disadvantage they were labouring under, took the "if-you're-not-in-you-can't-win" approach to shooting and thumped balls at Ricardo from just about anywhere.

No luck. And in the end the better quality football produced the dividends. Move of the half involved Rui Costa, Nuno Gomez, Figo and of course Deco, sweeping the ball first one way across the Russian area and then the other. Figo hit the post. Deco swept the rebound over. The attendance stood as one and applauded.

That was the highlight, but the football thereafter was all pleasurable and promising. Portugal passed in neat patterns and looked occasionally like they would fulfil the promise of their own golden generation. Deco and Figo continued to prod and taunt. Maniche ran at the Russians and laid it off impudently.

At times like these the Portuguese are irresistible.

Thirteen minutes before time an exhausted Figo was withdrawn to a standing ovation and Ronaldo inserted into the action. It was almost an act of ostentatious self-indulgence.

The single-goal margin remained unswelled until the 89th minute. Portugal had almost resigned themselves to the result when Ronaldo found himself in space on the left and chipped a little pass to Rui Costa who ghosted behind the central defence and stabbed the ball in at the near post. Not a goal which will make a pile of difference but a worthy grace note for a fine performance.

Still digesting last night's glory, the Portuguese head towards the weekend as a nation paralysed by anticipation. Playing Spain and needing to win. Days like these were what they promised themselves when they set out on this great adventure.

Their coach, Big Phil Scolari, was satisfied with his side. "The performance of the entire team was good," Scolari said. "The players were trying to score another goal, they were playing in a different way from normal, making quick passes and moving the ball out wide," he added.

His Russian counterpart, Georgy Yartsev, said he took full responsibility for the defeat which led to his team's exit from the tournament.

"In my job I have total responsibility and I will never blame the players. I have chosen these players and I am responsible," he said.