Germany (5) v (8) Portugal

By Tim Beissmann

Third place in the Dignitary Cup was taken by Portugal after they held of a second half German comeback to win 8-5.

The boys from Portugal have been entertaining fans on and off the pitch all week with their ball skills and tricks, and brought them all to the table in their final match of the tournament.

Arliton Goncalves De Cieta Vilela was the first to demonstrate his magic with a slippery first minute through ball that eluded a defender and went through the German keeper's legs.

After two minutes of tight play, the persistent tackling and harassing of Portugal's Fabio Martins Ramos paid off with a surge forward and goal to Luis Rodrigues.

Showing some fight of his own, German forward Patrick Helliger battled fiercely in the right corner, working his way out of a double-teamed situation to squeeze out the Germans' first goal.

The teams went goal-for-goal through Vilela and Helliger, the German coach screaming instructions from the sidelines as the Portugese backheeled to the crowds delight.

Artur Walencik worked hard to dispossess the Portugese strikers in defence with the scores at 4-2, but a hat-trick from Martins Ramos in the final two minutes, including one in the last five seconds frustrated the Germans, who deserved to be closer for all their work.

The scores remained at 7-2 for an extended period in the second half as time stopped in the first minute. Defender Raphael Leichert cut his knee on the wall following a crunching tackle, and as the only German fit enough to take the field, demanded to be quickly patched up so his team were not forced to play a man short.

The opening goal of the half came from Helliger who threaded it from an impossible angle, and the crowd sensed a comeback may be on the cards.

The Portuguese made three substitutions at the break, and Vitor Dos Santos Pires showed the importance of fresh legs and physicality, bullocking his way through the defence to put home his first in the fourth minute.

The Germans looked the better of the two sides in the second half, and Walencik sent through two late goals to earn some more respect for his country.

After strong performances by both teams throughout the tournament, the Portuguese did enough in the first half to ensure the win, but the Germans were by no means disgraced, earning an appreciative cheer from the crowd for their late persistence.

Photos: Photoworx