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Portugal national football team
International Friendlies
May 31, 2014 at 7.30pm UK
 
Greece national football team

0-0

FT

Toothless Portugal held by Greece

Portugal are held to a goalless draw against Greece despite dominating for large periods of the World Cup warm-up match.

Portugal were held to a goalless draw by Greece this evening despite dominating the vast majority of the World Cup warm-up encounter.

Portugal's forward Hugo Almeida vies with Greece's defender Loukas Vyntra (L) during the friendly football match Portugal vs Greece at the Jamor National stadium in Oeiras on the outskirts of Lisbon on May 31, 2014© Getty Images

The hosts almost made a perfect start to the match when Nani's cross was nodded goalwards by Eder after just two minutes, but Orestis Karnezis made the save.

Karnezis was called into action again five minutes later, tipping Bruno Alves's header away before a more routine stop to deny Ricardo Costa from the resultant corner.

Portugal struggled to create much aside from set pieces in the first half, with Miguel Veloso firing an effort wide from the edge of the box when presented with a rare sight of goal.

Greece were also short of quality in the final third, coming closest in the 38th minute when Vassilis Torosidis curled an effort well off target from 25 yards.

The hosts began to look more threatening after the restart but still couldn't find a breakthrough despite Nani fizzing a dangerous low ball across the face on goal in the 54th minute.

Nani was consistently Portugal's biggest threat and came close again with 20 minutes remaining as his strike was eventually gathered by Karnezis at the second attempt.

The visitors almost snatched the victory with just five minutes remaining as Ioannis Fetfatzidis's low effort from a corner was just about kept out by Beto.

Portugal then almost grabbed a dramatic late win when Costa's cross took a rebound that diverted it against the woodwork with virtually the last kick of the match.

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Barney Corkhill
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