Cissé puts France in control

By Rui Matos Pereira in Guimaraes

France moved within touching distance of a place in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals with a 2-1 victory away aganst Portugal in the first leg of the play-off for the final tournament.

Away goals
Raymond Domenech's side will take a narrow lead back to the Gabriel-Montpied stadium in Clermont-Ferrand for the second leg on 18 November and, having scored two away goals into the bargain, will be confident of progressing to the finals.

Portugal in front
Portugal started the first leg, played at Vitória Guimarães's D. Afonso Henriques stadium, brightly, and took the lead with their first attack. With just five minutes played, winger Ricardo Quaresma stepped away from Patrica Evra and crossed into the goalmouth, where the ball was cleared only as far as Hugo Viana. The Newcastle United FC midfield player's effort was blocked but the rebound fell kindly for Jorge Ribeiro, whose low first-time shot beat goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau.

Cissé leveller
France responded swiftly and after Bernard Mendy's shot was easily saved by Portuguese goalkeeper Moreira, the visitors drew level midway through the first period. Evra's long left-wing cross picked out Djibril Cissé and the AJ Auxerre striker equalised with a first-time left-footed volley.

Same combination
Lifted by the goal, Domenech's team took control of the match and, after Mendy had gone close again the visitors completed the turnaround with a second goal a minute past the half-hour. Cissé was again the scorer, with Evra the provider once more as the AS Monaco FC midfield player's pass sent the striker clear of Bruno Alves and Ricardo Costa and, with only Moreira to beat, Cissé coolly gave his side the lead.

Bamogo denied
France's tactics made it hard for the home side to find a way back into the game, and the visitors continued to look the more likely scorers, Habib Bamogo twice having chances shortly after half-time. First, Portuguese captain Ricardo Costa was called into action to deny the striker, before the Montpellier Hérault SC forward forced a save from Moreira.

Portugal denied
The home side had chances of their own, with Hélder Postiga meeting Ribeiro's cross with a header and Quaresma creating a chance with a dribble, but both efforts were easily dealt with by Penneteau and France preserved their lead to take a firm hold of the tie.