Overall, the Russians' play in this match can be divided into two parts. Playing with a full complement, and playing short-handed. At the same time, having one player fewer, the Russians looked more interesting.
However, let's take things in order. Compared to the match with the Spaniards, the head coach of the Russian national team, Heorhiy Yartsev, made four changes. Buhayev came onto the field from the first minutes, Loskov appeared in place of the disgraced Mostovoy, and Karyaka and Kerzhakov also came on.
Nevertheless, the changes in the lineup could not change the situation on the field in this match. Already in the 7th minute the Russian team found itself in the role of the chasing side. After a pass from the left by Deco, Maniche received the ball at the 11-meter mark, won the struggle against Yevseyev, and accurately shot into the corner of Ovchynnikov's goal — 0:1. A few minutes later another unpleasantness awaited Russia in this game, though not the biggest one. Out of nowhere, Smertin received a "yellow card," who will miss the game against Greece and can already go on vacation.
In general, in the first half of the game, all the Russians' attacks ended almost immediately beyond the center circle as a result of inaccurate passes or interceptions by the Portuguese. The hosts of the championship constantly pressed on Ovchynnikov's goal throughout the first half, although there were not many chances.
In the 45th minute, what turned out to be a fatal episode in this encounter occurred for the Russians. A defender of the Russian national team plays a back pass, and Pauleta rushed after this ball like a kite, but Ovchynnikov, who had come out of his goal, eliminated the danger, but at the same time touched the "ball." The main referee of the game, Norwegian Hauge, sends him off the field for the goalkeeper's handball outside the penalty area. Yartsev had to bring on the number two goalkeeper Malofeyev at the cost of substituting Aldonin.
After that, the Portuguese national team players continued to push their line, but at the same time the Russian team began to play more freely and increasingly approached the opponent's goal, which in itself was already a success, considering their actions in the first half of the match.
In the 52nd minute Malofeyev again saves the Russian national team, pulling the ball out of the top corner after a shot by Valente. The Russians delivered their first shot on target against Ricardo in the 13th minute of the second half, when Karyaka shot.
Towards the end of the game, Figo and Deco missed two excellent chances to score. After the first one's shot the ball hit the post, and the second failed to hit the empty goal of the Russian team from a few meters.
However, the Portuguese onslaught did its "dark" deed for the Russian national team. In the 88th minute Ronaldo crossed and Rui Costa closed this cross with his foot — 2:0. Portugal continues the fight for reaching the quarterfinals, while Russia can only slam the door, not letting team Greece into the next round, whom they meet in the last round. Although in this case there are several options for who will advance from Group A, but all of them are without the Russian team.
Group A
Russia - Portugal — 0:2 Goals: Maniche 8, Rui Costa 88 Russia: Ovchynnikov, Yevseyev, Sennikov, Buhayev, Smertin, Aldonin (Malofeyev 45), Karyaka (Bulykin 79), Izmailov (Bystrov 72), Alenichev, Loskov, Kerzhakov. Portugal: Soares, Andrade, Monteiro, Valente, Carvalho, Costa, Figo (Cristiano Ronaldo 76), Maniche, Deco, Pauleta (Gomes 56), Sabrosa (Rui Costa 63). Sent off: Ovchynnikov.