Portugal 0-0 Finland
Portugal secured the point they needed to advance to the UEFA EURO 2008™ finals despite being denied time and again by the fine goalkeeping of Jussi Jääskeläinen.
Jääskeläinen heroics
The home side certainly did not play for a draw and only a wonderful performance from Jääskeläinen prevented Luiz Felipe Scolari's men from recording a comfortable triumph that would have made them Group A winners ahead of Poland. The visitors knew that only a win would be enough for them to qualify but they rarely threatened, their best chance coming in a frantic finale in which defender Bruno Alves sliced narrowly wide of his own goal. Defeat leaves the Finns in third place, although they could slip to fourth if Serbia win their final game against Kazakhstan.
Portugal dominant
Portugal dominated the first half but a combination of poor finishing and Jääskeläinen's excellence prevented them from taking the lead. The hosts' first effort came after two minutes, Ricardo Quaresma firing in a shot which was smothered by Jääskeläinen and the Bolton Wanderers FC custodian excelled again after ten minutes tipping Cristiano Ronaldo's 25-metre free-kick over the bar. The one-way traffic continued, Quaresma again being denied while a Ronaldo header was turned over by Jääskeläinen.
Inspired goalkeeping
It took Finland 42 minutes to threaten home goalkeeper Ricardo, Joonas Kolkka lashing in a shot which drifted just over the bar. Portugal quickly regained the initiative after the break but again could find no way past the goalkeeper. After 51 minutes Miguel Veloso whipped in a corner which Nuno Gomes directed goalwards only for Jääskeläinen to produce another wonderful stop. The 32-year-old produced two more fine saves to deny Quaresma before Finland launched a late bid to win it. However, the closest Roy Hodgson's team came was when Alves almost put through his own goal.
Serbia 2-2 Poland
Poland, having already qualified, confirmed themselves as group winners with a 2-2 draw away to Serbia.They were 2-0 up at half time through strikes from Rafal Murawski and Radoslaw Matusak.
The Serbs, knowing a win would give them a chance of qualification if Finland beat Portugal, rallied in the second half to produce finishes from Nikola Zigic and Danko Lazovic,but they did not have time to score a winner for their hopes.
Azerbaijan 0-1 Belgium
Luigi Pieroni scored the only goal in Baku to seal Belgium's fifth win of a disappointing UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign.
Azerbaijan bottom
The visiting side enjoyed the better of the play at the Tofikh Bakhramov-Republic Stadium and Pieroni got their reward on 53 minutes. René Vandereycken's team finish fifth in Group A, with Azerbaijan bottom on five points from their 12 games.
Belgium press
Belgium began positively and midfielder Gill Swerts came close on 17 minutes, Azerbaijan goalkeeper Farkhad Veliyev doing well to keep out his 20-metre drive. Veliyev saved again five minutes later, catching Daniel Van Buyten's header following Swerts's dangerous set-piece. Azerbaijan were largely restricted to shots from distance with forward Zaur Ramazanov going closest with a strike that flashed narrowly wide on 37 minutes.
Pieroni goal
Belgium broke the deadlock after the interval when Pieroni pounced with an opportunist goal. Azerbaijan defender Rail Melikov blocked a header but Pieroni seized on the rebound and turned the ball into the bottom left corner. The 27-year-old missed an opening to double the advantage in the 65th minute when he screwed a close-range attempt wide after finding space in the box.
Late misses
Belgium controlled possession as the game wore on and it was not until the 85th minute that Azerbaijan finally worked a meaningful opportunity. Substitute Leandro Gomes got himself into a good position on the edge of the area yet shot wide. When, in added time, Branimir Subašić blazed over from a matter of metres, Azerbaijan's final chance had gone.
Armenia 1-0 Kazakhstan
Sergey Ostapenko's first international goal earned Kazakhstan a victory in Yerevan which took the visitors above Armenia in UEFA EURO 2008™ Group A.
Kazakh success
The 21-year-old's second-half strike came against the run of play and gave Kazakhstan only their second win of the qualifying campaign.
In control
Armenia had threatened to take control early on when Robert Arzumanyan shot wide following an Artur Voskanyan free-kick. Although Ostapenko tested Armenia keeper Roman Berezovsky's reflexes soon after, the home team continued to dictate matters. Karen Dokhoyan fired over when well-placed before an effort from Levon Pachajyan skimmed the top of the crossbar close to half-time.
Perfect response
The traffic carried on towards the Kazakhstan goal at the beginning of the second period, with a Samvel Melkonyan attempt flying just the wrong side of an upright. Ostapenko provided the perfect response for Arno Pijpers' men, first by demanding a save from Berezovsky following a Sergey Larin centre, then by blasting the ball beyond the Armenia keeper from the edge of the area.
Armenia low
Armenia came close to equalising soon after through an Artavazd Karamyan free-kick. However, the team now led by Vardan Minasyan following the death of coach Ian Porterfield could not prevent their campaign ending on a glum note. Armenia, who had won 2-1 in Kazakhstan in June, finished on nine points from 12 matches – having been unable to fulfil their two fixtures against Azerbaijan. The Kazakhs have ten points and a game still to play in Serbia.
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