COVILHA, Portugal -- Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o got ejected in the first half and Raul Meireles scored twice to help Portugal earn a 3-1 win Tuesday over the Indomitable Lions in a World Cup warmup game.
Meireles, an FC Porto midfielder, struck in the 32nd and 47th minutes as Portugal dictated the run of play.
Eto'o was sent off in the 34th after being shown his second yellow card for a high tackle on left back Duda.
Achille Webo pulled one back with a header in the 69th, seven minutes after coming on as a substitute but Nani chipped over goalkeeper Idriss Kameni with nine minutes left.
Cristiano Ronaldo was twice denied inside the penalty area when he seemed sure to score, leaving him still looking for his first international goal in 16 months.
Eto'o joined the Cameroon squad last week after winning the Champions league title with Inter Milan.
He threatened to sit out the World Cup after being criticized by former Cameroon great Roger Milla, who rebuked the striker for failing to reproduce his club form with the national team.
Eto'o was Cameroon's most dangerous attacking player before he was ejected.
The victory was a big step forward for Portugal after being held to a 0-0 draw by tiny Cape Verde last week. The Portuguese are playing against three African teams before they open Group G play against Ivory Coast on June 15. They take on Mozambique in Johannesburg on June 8. [end story]
Despite the scoreline, it was not an overall impressive match for Portugal. They improved from their dismal display against Cape Verde Islands, but they still don't look like they "have it." They will be matched up in their group alone against Brazil, and Cote d'Ivoire. Both can hammer in goals and scoring has been an issue for Portugal.
Raul Meireles, who scored a brace, also sent numerous balls into the crowds before and after his goals. He has a penchant for wild play (at Porto) and he showed it today as well. Nani looked awesome, which begs the question:
Why isn't Nani starting?
If it hadn't been for his pacing down the wing, two of their goals wouldn't have happened.
Cristiano was awful today. As bad as he was the other day, he looked worse today. He had one good shot on goal that he should have made...he was one on one with the keeper. And his other chance was wasted when he was doing stepovers instead of making it around his defender, who then took the ball away. He threw his hands up in disgust, but I hope it was with himself. He was offside too many times, and didn't have any touch on the ball whatsoever. The crowd booed him and the announcer said, "maybe it's time to sub him off and get a hitter in here...Hugo Almeida?" He seems to be trying the tricks to entertain, but the crowd doesn't want that...they want goals! Goals are what get you to the next round instead of a ticket home. He did set up the goal for Nani, but his scoreless performance today means he hasn't netted in almost a year-and-a-half.
My thought is that he isn't used to playing against any organized defense (outside of Barca) in the Spanish Primera. Did you wonder how RM scored over 100 goals in their league? Because defense is not stressed. Nani, on the other hand, plays in the EPL where physicality and defense is on the order. He looked much more comfortable against his mark today.
After letting Cameroon score a short-handed goal, I hope they are realizing that they beat a 10-man team, not a full-strength Brazil or Cote d'Ivoire. There is still work to be done.
Forca Portugal!!!!!
TEAM PORTUGAL:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (FC Braga), Beto (FC Porto), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis).
Defenders: Duda (Malaga), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel Brito (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Lille).
Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon).
Forwards: Nani (Manchester United), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Danny (Zenit St. Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon).
If it hadn't been for his pacing down the wing, two of their goals wouldn't have happened.
Cristiano was awful today. As bad as he was the other day, he looked worse today. He had one good shot on goal that he should have made...he was one on one with the keeper. And his other chance was wasted when he was doing stepovers instead of making it around his defender, who then took the ball away. He threw his hands up in disgust, but I hope it was with himself. He was offside too many times, and didn't have any touch on the ball whatsoever. The crowd booed him and the announcer said, "maybe it's time to sub him off and get a hitter in here...Hugo Almeida?" He seems to be trying the tricks to entertain, but the crowd doesn't want that...they want goals! Goals are what get you to the next round instead of a ticket home. He did set up the goal for Nani, but his scoreless performance today means he hasn't netted in almost a year-and-a-half.
My thought is that he isn't used to playing against any organized defense (outside of Barca) in the Spanish Primera. Did you wonder how RM scored over 100 goals in their league? Because defense is not stressed. Nani, on the other hand, plays in the EPL where physicality and defense is on the order. He looked much more comfortable against his mark today.
After letting Cameroon score a short-handed goal, I hope they are realizing that they beat a 10-man team, not a full-strength Brazil or Cote d'Ivoire. There is still work to be done.
Forca Portugal!!!!!
Raul Meireles (16) celebrates his first goal with Pedro and Liedson
Nani beats Cameroon keeper Kameni from a Ronny assist
...and celebrates!
Samuel Eto'o was not happy for being sent off. He wouldn't have been had he not smarted off to the ref after his yellow for fouling Duda. As captain he has shown a lack of maturity and poise, especially since he said earlier this week that he might not go to SA because he was being criticized by a former star of Cameroon football, Roger Milla. Pep Guardiola of Barcelona traded him because he was a supposed problem in the dressing room...maybe there is some truth to that!
TEAM PORTUGAL:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (FC Braga), Beto (FC Porto), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis).
Defenders: Duda (Malaga), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel Brito (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Lille).
Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon).
Forwards: Nani (Manchester United), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Danny (Zenit St. Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon).
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