Portugal power to opening victory

Portugal produced a clinical second-half display to open their UEFA European Under-19 Championship Group B campaign with a welcome win, goals from Nélson Oliveira and Sérgio Oliveira proving too much for Italy in Mondeville.

In a repeat of the 2003 final, Mattia Destro was a regular threat for Italy throughout the first period but instead the breakthrough came at the other end, Nélson Oliveira giving Ilídio Vale's side a 51st-minute lead. That advantage was doubled by Sérgio Oliveira's ferocious long-range effort 12 minutes later, meaning Portugal go into Wednesday's game against the other Matchday 1 victors Spain level with their Iberian rivals on three points.

Top scorer in qualifying with eight goals, appropriately it was Italy's Destro who had the first glimpses of goal, twice missing the target in the first nine minutes. Roderick's misdirected header then presented the forward with another opportunity, Tiago Maia getting down quickly to parry a fierce shot and Roderick redeeming himself by reaching the loose ball ahead of Fabio Borini. Portugal gradually worked their way into the match with Aníbal Capela and the two eventual goalscorers all missing the target when well placed although Italy again threatened shortly before the interval, Destro wriggling free down the left and supplying an inviting low cross that no one was able to turn in.

Six minutes into the second period, Portugal made the breakthrough from a similar source; Cédric burst forward from right-back and picked out Nélson Oliveira with his low cross, the Rio Ave FC forward making no mistake with a first-time effort. Simone Colombi then had to dive full length to push behind Sérgio Oliveira's free-kick but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do three minutes past the hour, the same player unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25 metres to double Portugal's lead. Italy, who finished with nine men after right-back Alessandro Crescenzi was carried off and Marco D'Alessandro was shown an added-time red card, were unable to respond and next face Croatia.