Portugal (5) v (3) Austria

By Claire Varley

Portugal triumphed over Austria 5-3 today in the final quarter final match of the Dignitary Cup.

It was a game of good shots and good keeping, as Portugal's Nuno Miguel Nunes Batista Mendes and Austria's Richard Hackl showed the crowd what superb goalkeeping is.

Portugal found the net first, with Fabio Martins Ramos sliding the ball into the goal's corner.

Austria's Siaband Botoev replied with a fast, powerful goal.

The Portuguese delighted the crowd with an exhibition of their fancy footwork, while Austria's keeper put in the hard yards, energetically covering the entire goal face.

But another Portuguese goal was netted by Fabio.

Austria's Rasit Simsek sent a huge ball into the net off a well placed cross to level the score.

Another Austrian goal sent the crowd into raptures, as Portugal's keeper Mendes threw his body across the goals, narrowly missing the ball.

The pressure rose as the game approached half time, with the players, the coaches and the crowd competing to make the most noise.

Half time brought a few threatening rain drops and by the start of the second half the rain was pouring down.

Fabio took two goals for Portugal, with the second coming off the back of a near miss from team mate Filipe Gil Goncalves.

As the temperature fell with the rain, it rose on field, as the crowd became louder and the frustration more vocal.

A penalty shot from Austria's Gerhard Karl Fasching was brilliantly saved by Mendes.

As the pitch became slippery in the rain, Portugal's Luis A Rodrigues snuck the ball past the Austrian keeper, ricocheting it off the goal post and into the net.

As the minutes ticked away and the desperation became apparent, a blue card was handed out to Austria's Bernhard Schratter.

A fast-paced, well fought match was brought to an end by the final whistle with Portugal victorious 5-3.

Photos: Photoworx