SPORTSTICKER EURO RECAP (NETHERLANDS-PORTUGAL)
LISBON, Portugal (Ticker) -- Portugal has made it through to the final of a major international competition for the first time after posting a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the first semifinal of Euro 2004.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo put the Portuguese on the board in the 26th minute when he was left undefended on Luis Figo's corner kick and he promptly headed the ball in from just outside the six-yard box.
Portugal seemed to have put the game away on Nuno Maniche's brilliant strike from the edge of the penalty area that curled around Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the 58th minute.
Unfortunately for the hosts, defender Jorge Andrade floated an own-goal over his goalie Ricardo just five minutes later to reduce the lead by half.
But despite its best effort, Holland never could find the equalizer. When the final whistle blew, the crowd in Lisbon celebrated its team's trip to the Euro 2004 final.
"We had our chances and we suffered a lot more than we needed to but when it's over, it's over," said Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari, who guided his native Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title. "We have arrived in the final and I want to congratulate the team and the Portuguese people who have always believed in us."
With the win, Portugal became the first host team to make the final of a European Championship since France won the title in 1984.
"It's difficult to explain the emotion right now, being in the position of playing in the final in our country," said Portugal captain Luis Figo, the Man of the Match. "We can't wish for anything better than this."
In the previous four Euros, the host team had lost in the semifinals.
Portugal will play the winner of Thursday's Greece-Czech Republic semifinal in the championship game on Sunday.
Maniche knows that his team's work is far from over.
"Greece and the Czech Republic are both good teams - they must be to have reached the semifinals," he said.
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