We're still in this!!!!!

Hey Peeps, and of course Ms. Hazel Mae.

Been a long time - still hurting from the Leafs loss in the playoffs.  But today was World Cup Qualifiers day and as Hazel said on her broadcast, "It is hard to imagine a World Cup without Cristiano Ronaldo".  Hazel could not have been more right - and we responded in a must win game against Russia.

If you have read this blog over the years - we always do it the hard way, but our boys always pull it out and make it to the big show.  The 2014 World Cup will be no different - Portugal will be there.



Hazel, good job on the pronunciations - except it was Joao Moutinho, not Jose.  The "Quinas Nation" won't hold it against you, we just want you to back our boys!

The recap from FIFA

The big match
Portugal 1-0 Russia, Group F, Estadio da Luz, Lisbon
Goal: Helder Postiga 9
Portugal needed to win and win they did; the 1-0 result puts them right back in the race for automatic qualification. The Lusitanians began the match at blistering speed, unnerving the Russians, who appeared somewhat off the pace.

The opening goal did not take long to materialise: Miguel Veloso’s curling 9th-minute free-kick from the left-hand side fooled the Russian rearguard, who allowed Helder Postiga to creep in at the back post and force the ball over the line.

As the game developed, however, the away side gradually created some useful chances, and the pendulum began to swing back and forth, with both teams appearing capable of finding the net at any time.

Despite a superb acrobatic attempt by Vladimir Bystrov and numerous efforts from an on-song Cristiano Ronaldo, there would be no further scoring. The Portuguese consequently claim top spot in the pool, and lie two points clear of the Russians, who have played two fewer games, and three ahead of Israel.

In short - Portugal dominated those damn Russians - they had two half chances.  WE OWNED THEM.

The beautiful game can result in ugly and unjust scorelines - today's result was beautiful.

Now we wait til September to play Northern Ireland.

I'm OUT