Portugal & Mexico through

Already-qualified Portugal rested several key players for this third and final Group D match. Deco, Costinha, Nuno Gomes, Nuno Valente, Pauleta and Cristiano Ronaldo all were carrying yellow cards and coach Luis Felipe Scolari wished to stop them collecting another and hence miss a last 16 clash against difficult opposition.

They still had a very good team on the field and took early control of the game, as shown in the 6th minute, when Mexico, who needed a point to make certain of their second round place, were stunned.

Simao Sabrosa, running down the left, played a ball across to Maniche on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder placed his shot into the far top corner beyond the grasping fingers of Oswaldo Sanchez.

Predatory striker Omar Bravo almost scored an instantaneous equaliser at the far post for the Mexicans but his volley was marginally wide.

Mexico fought their way back into the match but were dealt a cruel blow on 23 minutes when captain Rafael Marquez punched a Portugal corner clear a few yards from goal. It was a rash incident, totally out of character from Mexico's best player.

Simao stepped up and ignored Sanchez's goal-line antics to strike the ball home high to the goalkeeper's right.

Suddenly Mexico were faced with a very real possibility of elimination, as a healthy Angola win over Iran in the other Group D match in Leipzig would see them join the central Americans on four points and maybe overtake them on goal difference.

They responded quickly, with Bravo again at the far post denied by Ricardo. Then in the 30th minute their attacking play was rewarded when Jose Fonseca, unmarked at the front post, headed across goal and into the far corner.

The statistics were very similar for the two teams, which amply highlighted the similarity in their styles of play. First one and then the other passed the ball around confidently before shooting well or putting dangerous balls into the box.

The best of these arrived on the stroke of half-time, when Marquez was left alone only two yards out but couldn't get a clean strike on the ball. A melee ensued during which Mexico claimed two penalties for hard tackles, both denied, and Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo feigned injury.

The match was full-blooded and several yellow cards were flashed by referee Lubos Michel as the tackles flew in. Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari looked agitated on the touchline, although vindicated in his decision to protect his star players from suspension.

Mexico got their chance to ensure qualification in the 57th minute when Luis Perez was fouled by Miguel, who then handballed to give the ref no choice but to award a penalty.

Bravo took a long run-up before blazing the ball over the crossbar. To compound the misery of the thousands of sombrero-attired Mexicans in the stands, news then came through that Angola had taken the lead against Iran.

Seconds after that the referee took a decision that threatened to have a very serious bearing on Mexico's World Cup. Perez cut inside the area and seemed to be fouled by Miguel, but instead of pointing to the spot, he booked Perez for diving. It was the midfielder's second yellow and he was forced to take an early bath.

Bravo had another glorious chance to level on 63 minutes when put through by Marquez, but his shot was just over.

Ten minutes later he should have been awarded another penalty. On the by-line with the ball, just inside the box, he was mercilessly hacked down by Paulo Ferreira, the man who had replaced Miguel following his rash tackling in the box. Referee Michel again ignored the pleas for a penalty and instead gave Mexico a corner.

Relief flowed into the ground with the news that Iran had equalised. Whether they knew about the score or not, the Mexico players continued to seek the point they needed to make sure of qualification.

More fouls and bookings could not dampen the spirit of the celebrating fans as full-time approached.

Portugal and Mexico will face Argentina or the Netherlands in the last 16.