Portugal (8) v (1) Austria

THE CLASSY foot skills of Portugal proved too good for the Austrians in this top of the table Group H match, with the Southern Europeans taking the game 8-1.

The Austrians came out hard early and put the first goal on the board through their strong striker.

Portugal decided to take control of the pace of the match, working it around their defensive half and patiently building to score through Luis A Rodrigues in the second minute.

A dominant five minutes from Portugal's Fabio Martins Ramos produced a hat-trick, brought about through a combination of physical toughness and silky skills.

The Portuguese continued to pepper the goal, their tails up, but were foiled by the Austrian keeper, whose long arms and legs continually managed to get in the way of the Portuguese attempts.

Portugal quickly added to their 4-1 half time lead at the beginning of the second, Martins Ramos slotting through his fourth before being rested for his next match.

The Austrians, led by their keeper, kept applying the pressure, rejecting penalty shots to stay in the hunt.

But Portugal's keeper Nune Filipe Simoes Rodrigues used his own good touch to set up Rodrigues, who almost toyed with the keeper to dribble through two goals in 30 seconds.

Both sides toiled gallantly to the end, and a leaping head-butt challenge between Rodrigues and Austria's No. 4 epitomised the courage and desperation displayed all day.

But it was the Portugese who came out on top in the end, consolidating their commanding position atop Group H.

Photos: Photoworx