Portugal outscore Iceland to maintain finals course

Portugal moved to within a point of sealing a UEFA EURO 2012 finals place after an entertaining win against Iceland in their final home qualification game.

Paulo Bento's men coasted into a three-goal half-time lead, thanks to Nani's double and Hélder Postiga's strike, but two Hallgrímur Jónasson efforts threatened an unlikely comeback until João Moutinho and Eliseu both struck late ahead of Gylfi Sigurdsson's added-time penalty. Portugal now need a draw against Denmark in Copenhagen on Tuesday to guarantee top spot in Group H.

The home side began tentatively and Rui Patrício had to tip Solvi Geir Jonsson's shot around the post early on, but their nerves subsided when Portugal scored from their first meaningful attack just before the quarter-hour mark, Nani glancing Eliseu's inviting delivery past Stefán Magnússon.

The goalkeeper was then caught off guard by Jonsson's back pass in the 21st minute and Manchester United FC winger Nani snuck in to tuck a second into the unguarded net. On the stroke of half-time, the hosts had a third, Bruno Alves swinging in a superb cross from the right which Hélder Postiga met at the back post for his 17th international goal, via the underside of the bar.

Iceland struck back three minutes after the interval as Jónasson headed in Jonsson's knockdown and the same combination silenced the crowd midway through the second half, when the 25-year-old Jónasson pounced on his captain's header at the back post following Kristján Sigurdsson's corner.

The Estádio do Dragão was tense again until the outstanding Moutinho struck on his club's home ground with eight minutes left, side-footing in after a sizzling burst down the left by Eliseu, who subsequently struck the goal of the night from the edge of the area. Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty, with the last kick of the match, was deserved recompense for the efforts of Ólafur Jóhanneson's side.