Portugal vs Mexico, 2006 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup

Portugal

6': Maniche
24': Simão (P)

FT
2 - 1

Mexico

29': Francisco Fonseca
61': Luis Perez

About

Portugal are hosting Mexico at Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany, starting on . The match is a part of the FIFA World Cup.

Match Timeline

0': Portugal leave their booked players - including Deco and Ronaldo - on the bench for the Group D clash. Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Meira, Caneira, Petit, Maniche, Tiago, Figo, Simao, Pauleta. Subs: Boa Morte, Costinha, Deco, Nuno Gomes, Nuno Valente, Paulo Ferreira, Paulo Santos, Postiga, Quim, Ricardo Costa, Ronaldo, Viana. Mexico: Sanchez, Pineda, Marquez, Osorio, Salcido, Rodriguez, Pardo, Perez, Mendez, Fonseca, Bravo. Subs: Arellano, Borgetti, Castro, Corona, Franc
0': The five rested Portugal players are Ronaldo, Deco, Pauleta, Nuno Valente and Costinha. Mexico, meanwhile, need a point to be sure of qualifying.
0': The Mexicans - well, some of them anyway - look rather fired up during the national anthems. Failing to beat Angola means this group is still alive.
1': Mexico get us underway and immediately Ricardo is confident enough to stroll around a striker before clearing.
1': Mexico seem to have Marquez in midfield today, an attempt to get him to run the game.
2': Marquez starts well finding Fonseca on the right, he dribbles inside two and drills a low shot that Ricardo holds well.
3': An early alarm for Portugal. You'd preusme they would be keen not to lose this, if only because the team who finishes top should avoid the winner of Group C - probably Argentina.
3': More pressure from Portugal before Maniche relieves it by clearing in his own box.
4': At the other end, Sanchez comes out of his box to head clear.
5': Good start from Mexico. Their intent is obvious, but what will be Portugal's approach?
6': GOAL - a great response, Maniche lifting his shot into the roof of the net.
6': But give credit to Simao, who set off down the left on a jinking run and sidefooted his pass to the advancing Maniche
7': Portugal get a goal with their first attack. Mexico, meanwhile, may already be concerned about events elsewhere
7': So close to an equaliser. Pardo crossed and Bravo, at full stretch, volleyed just wide.
8': Bravo rather chops down Petit. Free kick, but the ref keeps his cards in his pocket.
10': Figo takes on two defenders and thinks he's won a corner. The referee disagrees.
11': Figo and Maniche come forward again. The opt not to put the ball in to the box for Postiga - who may not have got a touch yet - until Simao crosses and it is cleared.
12': Perez passes forward to absolutely no one. Miguel is happy for it to run out.
13': Marquez wins a free kick for a foul by Caneira, takes it quickly and loses it.
14': Now Pardo looks for Fonseca, but gives the striker no chance with that pass.
14': Better ball from Marquez to Fonseca and a spell of decent passing from Mexico until Osorio can't win his header.
16': Meira concedes a throw near his own corner flag.
17': Then Fonseca crosses and Carvalho heads away. The Portuguese should have an aerial advantage in most duels today.
18': Without Deco, it is very much a case of Portugal fielding three central midfielders, so it could be tough for Mexico to break them down.
18': Mexico opt for the long pass, Fonseca chases and Carvalho sees it out for a goal kick.
19': Figo on the burst - shows he he still has some pace - and wins a corner from Salcido.
20': Figo himself takes it, but it's easy for Fonseca on the front post. He clears it back to Figo, who crosses to the goalkeeper instead.
21': Marquez slips in the centre circle and loses out, Maniche drives forward and is brought down on the edge of the box. Rodriguez fouled him, he is booked.
22': Great chance to shoot from here. Figo does, but clips the top of the wall and it's a corner.
23': ... which Figo takes, and it is a penalty - MArquez handled the cross. Why?
24': Needless from Marquez, who tried to claim he was pushed.
24': Simao, anyway, has the penalty and he ignores Sanchez's jig along the line to fire it in calmly.
25': Well, where do Mexico go from here? 2-0 down to a Portugal team lacking five players. They must be glad that Iran are holding Angola in the group's other game.
26': Caneira charges forward from left back, gets a cross in and Postiga goes down in the box. No penalty this time.
27': Miguel fouls Bravo and is booked.
27': And it's a second booking in a minute - the Mexican Perez, whose foot was raised as he challenged Maniche.
27': And it's nearly three - first Postiga has a shot that Sanchez blocks and then Tiago reaches the rebound to volley over.
28': A foul by Meira on Bravo gives Mexico a free kick in a decent position to cross.
29': Great save! It is Ricardo with his feet to deny Bravo after the free kick came to him. Then it bounced off the bar and over
30': GOAL! Mexico are back in it now - Fonseca with the angled header from Pardo's corner.
30': Fonseca got away from his marker and Portugal had left the back post unguarded.
31': And after looking down and out, Mexico are back in it.
32': Now Mexico's passing shows that they have got a bit of confidence back - something of a swagger, which had deserted them.
32': Meanwhile Perez goes for a theatrical roll after a challenge from Maniche.
33': Free kick near the corner flag and once again Pardo comes over to take control. Marquez gets the flick-on, but wins a corner.
33': Pardo takes and this time the header goes straight up in the air, so Ricardo takes easily.
34': Miguel beats one man and the second, Salcido, concedes a corner.
35': Figo delivers, it is headed away at the near post.
36': Maniche intercepts Marquez's pass and looks for Figo. He finds Miguel and then Tiago, but a promising move breaks down when his pass is blocked.
37': Ronaldo and Deco are watching from the stands - there's no way Scolari will bring either of them on.
38': Petit takes a particularly ambitious long-range shot which flicks off Salcido and goes for a corner.
38': That is aimed at Carvalho, but can't quite finds its intended target.
39': And Fonseca, who is good in the air, wins another header but can't quite direct it inside the post. Bravo crossed it, and Fonseca is the danger man.
41': Meira halts a couple of Mexican attacks, but they come forward again until Marquez - again - wastes a pass. Not his day so far.
42': Maniche can't drill his shot through a crowd of players. It was Marquez who got the block in.
43': The shot-happy Maniche goes for goal again. His 30-yarder is rather easy for Sanchez. Still, he looks a rival to Frank Lampard in the prestigious battle to have most long-range shots in the tournament.
44': And that's a better shot. Pardo, from 30 yards, draws a diving stop from Ricardo.
44': Great save again! It is Ricardo, with a point-blank block from Fonseca after a brilliant cross from Pardo. And then Marquez couldn't turn it in.
45': Ricardo hurt himself in the process, but he's kept Portugal in the lead. It looks like he can continue.
45': One added minute to this very entertaining first half.
45': And from an acute angle, Bravo tries to take Mexico level - but he hooks his shot way over.
45': That's half-time. Maniche and Simao put Portugal in control, Mexico came back well with Fonseca scoring and the second half promises much.
46': Back for the second half, which Portugal have kicked off.
46': Zinha has come on for Mexico for the second half with the need for goals paramount.
47': Marquez has reverted to defence for the second half.
48': Zinha tries to weave his way through, but Portugal are back in numbers.
49': Zinha spreads play to Pineda. His cross is cleared despite an initial miskick.
49': Fonseca wins a free kick 35 yards out. Pardo curls it straight into Ricardo's arms.
51': Meira concedes another free kick 40 yards out.
51': Marquez lines it up while Pardo, inevitably, is behind it.
52': It is Pardo, who has a go from 30 yards. It curls past the wall but lacks the pace to beat the keeper.
54': Portugal, excellent in possession, are able to pass it around among their defence and midfield. Postiga, once again, is not involved.
55': Postiga gets a touch now, finding Figo who is fouled, but the move comes to nothing.
56': At the other end, Pardo lays the ball off to Fonseca, whose scuffed shot is simple for Ricardo.
56': And a second penalty of the game. Perez turned away from Miguel and went down - though the right back also handled the ball.
57': And Bravo belts it over the bar. Justice may have been done - Miguel may not have made contact with Perez and the handball was accidental.
58': Simao gets to the byline and crosses low. Osorio gets it away.
60': Mexico think they have another penalty - and instead the referee rueles Perez dived.
61': And it's a second yellow card for Perez for diving. He went down under a challenge from Miguel and the rather eccentric referee dismisses the Mexican.
61': Meanwhile Miguel departs for different reasons, with Paulo Ferreira replacing him.
62': A long way back for Mexico, still more dependent upon the score from the other game now that they are down to 10 men. It's Iran 0-0 Angola by the way.
64': And Pardo plays Bravo through on goal - he found space in the inside right channel - and from the edge of the box lofts his shot from 20 yards over the bar. Great chance, poor finish.
65': And now Mexican nerves are frayed - Angola have scored.
65': Simao goes over Marquez's outstretched foot and the Mexican captain is the latest player to be booked.
65': Tiago has a crack from 30 yards, and he doesn't miss by much.
66': Zinha has a shot from 20 yards, which he chips over the bar.
68': A rather needless handball from Maniche earns him a yellow card. Lubos Michel's notebook is getting full.
69': Meanwhile Nuno Gomes comes on for Helder Postiga while Mexico introduce Castro for Pineda.
70': Back on the pitch, Caneira lands ackwardly in a challenge with Castro, but he regains his footing rather gingerly.
71': Marquez comes forward, slides it through to Castro who, from a really good position, manages the most innocuous of shots.
72': Chance for the sub Gomes, but he fires over on the turn.
73': Salcido makes a fine run, then a cross evades Zinha and finally Ferreira makes a rash challenge on Bravo which could have been a penalty. A corner in the end.
74': It's all rather chaotic stuff and another decision there which really could have been wrong. Not Lubos Michel's finest game.
75': Mendez escapes down the right whips in a cross and Caneira turns it behind for a corner.
75': Pardo takes the corner, it comes out to Salcido whose 30-yard shot is blocked.
76': As it stands, Mexico will go through on goal difference - unless Angola can get more goals.
76': Maniche has yet another shot from 25 yards. It skews off the outside of his boot.
77': All rather anarchic here with the 10 men of Mexico in an undefined, random formation, some odd refereeing decisions and a rather entertaining match.
78': Salcido picks out Fonseca with a cross and his glancing header just evades Omar Bravo.
79': Mexico are caught between two stools - do they chase an equaliser or try to prevent a third that could result in their exit?
80': Boa Morte is the third Portugeuse sub, coming on for Figo.
80': Meanwhile, great news for Mexico - Iran have equalised against Angola.
81': And Mexico now bring off Mendez and bring on Franco, presumably to give them another forward in the quest for 2-2.
83': Terrific cross from Simao which beat the keeper and, but for a desperate interception from Marquez, would have given Nuno Gomes a tap-in.
84': The Mexican fans can celebrate now. They are going through, despite a probable defeat.
85': Franco spins, juggles and tumbles in the box. No one took his penalty appeal too seriously.
86': Pardo chips forward for Fonseca but goalkeeper Ricardo is alert to come out and claim.
86': Terrific effort from Tiago, capitalising on Marquez's mistake to lob his shot at goal. Sanchez ends in the net, the ball goes just over.
88': Boa Morte, meanwhile, picks up a yellow card after losing the ball and fouling Zinha. Zinha himself is also booked, for rather less specified reasons.
89': Fonseca goes for the curler, but his effort lacks power and Ricardo can fall on it.
89': A rather dangerous free kick from Pardo, which just seems to evade everyone. The jumping Fonseca was closest.
90': Three added minutes are signalled.
90': Now Nuno Gomes is booked, making it eight yellow cards and one red so far.
92': Boa Morte weaves his way across the pitch. Then Nuno Gomes lays it into the path of Maniche, whose first-time shot is parried by Sanchez.
93': Full time. Portugal record their third straight win to top the group. Missed penalties, red cards and great entertainment, but Mexico, barring an injury-time fightback from Angola, are all but certain to join them in the last 16.
93': Confirmation that Mexico are through - Angola haven't done enough against Iran.

Statistics

MEX		POR
15	Fouls	22
4	Yellow Cards	4
1	Red Cards	0
0	Offsides	2
5	Corner Kicks	4
5	Saves	7
50	Possession	50
15	SHOTS	13
6	ON GOAL	6
0.4	On Target %	0.5
0	Penalty Goals	1
1	Penalty Kicks Taken	1
0	Accurate Passes	0
0	Passes	0
0.0	Pass Completion %	0.0
0	Accurate Crosses	0
11	Crosses	7
0.0	Cross %	0.0
0	Long Balls	0
0	Accurate Long Balls	0
0.0	Long Balls %	0.0
3	Blocked Shots	3
0	Effective Tackles	0
0	Tackles	0
0.0	Tackle %	0.0
0	Interceptions	0
0	Effective Clearances	0
5	Clearances	4

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup

Venue: Arena AufSchalke
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Attendance: 52,000

FIFA World Cup Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	United States	0	0	0
2	Paraguay	0	0	0
3	Australia	0	0	0
4	Winner Playoff Path C	0	0	0

Full Table

Line-Ups

Portugal

No.	Name
1	Ricardo (GK)
13	Miguel
16	Ricardo Carvalho
5	Fernando Meira
3	Marco Caneira
8	Petit
18	Maniche
19	Tiago
7	Luis Figo
11	Simão
23	Hélder Postiga

Portugal Substitutes:

Jorge Paulo Santos, Quim, Nuno Valente, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Costa, Costinha, Deco, Hugo Viana, Pedro Miguel Pauleta, Luis Boa Morte, Nuno Gomes, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mexico

No.	Name
1	Oswaldo Javier Ibarra Sanchez (GK)
14	Gonzalo Reyes
4	Rafael Márquez
5	Ricardo Mendoza Osorio
3	Carlos Salcido
22	Francisco Javier Pinedo Rodriguez
16	Mario Mendez
8	Pavel Segura Pardo
23	Luis Perez
17	Francisco Fonseca
19	Omar Bravo

Mexico Substitutes:

José Corona, Guillermo Ochoa, Jose Antonio Gonzalez Castro, Andrés Guardado, Claudio Suarez, Rafael Garcia, Gerardo Torrado, Sinha, Jesus Arellano, Jared Francisco Echavarria Borgetti, Guillermo Franco, Ramon Higuera Morales.

FIFA World Cup News

Marcotti's 2026 wishes: A big World Cup (with Italy in it), transparency in football, more

Gab Marcotti rings in the new year by writing down what he hopes to see in football in 2026, above all else: a safe, fun and clean World Cup.

'Alarm bells' for FIFA over England fans WC ticket snub - supporters group

A fans' group says "alarm bells should be ringing" at FIFA with England's fans having failed to take up their full ticket allocation for next summer's World Cup final.

How U.S. Soccer can grow the game with $100m World Cup windfall

The U.S. Soccer Federation is expecting to earn $100 million from co-hosting next summer's World Cup, so how will that money be invested in the game?

AFCON 2025 - What the yellow card saga taught Bafana's Teboho Mokoena about being a good teammate

There were few positives from Bafana Bafana's three-point FIFA World Cup qualifying points deduction, but being in the centre of the storm taught Teboho Mokoena a lesson about his own, and others', mental health.

Neymar has minor knee surgery, Brazil World Cup hopes alive

Neymar underwent minor surgery on his left knee, his club Santos said on Monday.