News Sports Soccer Bulut scores twice as Turkey upsets Portugal 3-1

Bulut scores twice as Turkey upsets Portugal 3-1

Lisbon (Portugal), June 3: Turkey upset Portugal 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday, a week before the Portuguese start their campaign at the European Championship against Germany.Portugal is winless in its last three matches and

bulut scores twice as turkey upsets portugal 3 1 bulut scores twice as turkey upsets portugal 3 1
Lisbon (Portugal), June 3: Turkey upset Portugal 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday, a week before the Portuguese start their campaign at the European Championship against Germany.



Portugal is winless in its last three matches and for the second time in a week was jeered by its home fans. It previously conceded 0-0 draws in friendlies against Macedonia and Poland.

Despite dictating the run of play, Portugal lacked ideas in attack and too often was guilty of poor finishing, including Cristiano Ronaldo's 65th-minute penalty miss.

Umut Bulut tapped in from close range in the 35th and extended Turkey's lead in the 52nd after a defensive blunder by Miguel Veloso.

Five minutes later Nani's low drive from the right flank into the far corner pulled one back for Portugal, but Ricardo Costa's 88th-minute clearance hit Pepe and rebounded into the net.

Portugal made six changes from the team that started against Macedonia last week, including Miguel Lopes making his debut at right-back.

The Portuguese, eager to put the weak performance against Macedonia behind them, started brightly. Ronaldo produced one of his trademark dipping volleys from a free kick in the 10th which Volkan Demirel was at full stretch to keep out, then Hugo Almeida's diving header from a Fabio Coentrao cross went just over the bar.

Hamit Altintop hit the Portuguese goal frame in the 30th, and Hugo Almeida did the same at the other end.

Sercan Sararer beat two Portuguese defenders and poked over a low cross for Bulut's opener. Bulut extended Turkey's lead as Portugal began to look ragged, especially in defense.

Ronaldo had a chance to level the scores from the spot but Demirel dived to his left to keep out the shot.