Angola 0 Portugal 1

COLOGNE, June 12: Portugal secured a 1-0 win over Angola on Sunday as the African World Cup debutants overcame a nervous start to hold their own against their former colonial masters.

Pauleta almost scored after 12 seconds and did so after four minutes as the Euro 2004 runners-up threatened to run away with their opening Group D clash in a one-sided first 20 minutes.

But Angola overcame their jitters, created a few chances of their own and walked off the pitch with their heads held high at the end of an emotional encounter.

Angola gained a bloody independence in 1975 after 400 years of colonial rule but relations between the two countries have thawed since and eight of the Angola squad play their club football in Portugal. They made it tough for their opoonents.

“A victory even it’s by the narrowest of margins is excellent,” said Portuguese coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

“We have three points in the bag. The game was complicated as expected.”

The European side, unbeaten winners of a tough World Cup qualifying group, warmed to their task immediately as Pauleta skidded a shot just wide when they broke straight from kickoff.

He did not have to wait long to find the net though as three minutes later Luis Figo collected the ball in acres of midfield space, easily skipped past Kali and pulled the ball back for the striker to tuck in his 47th goal in his 83rd international.

The Angolans looked in disarray as Pauleta ran free on to another long ball before hooking over the bar but they eventually settled down and enjoyed a flurry of half-chances.

Andre forced Portugal keeper Ricardo to touch out a fierce long strike while former Benfica striker Akwa, Angola's captain and most-capped player, had the crowd on their feet with two attempted overhead kicks.

His bright orange boots were a blur of spectacular movement and though the results went horribly wide the crowd responded to lift the underdogs.

Portugal replied as Ronaldo cracked a 35th minute header against the bar from a Figo corner and then had a stinging shot beaten out by Angola keeper Joao Ricardo.

However, Portugal's inability to find a second goal left captain Figo's displeasure obvious in his animated discussions with his team mates at the end of the first period.

Angola looked far better organised in the second half and Portugal ran out of ideas in attack.

They were eventually reduced to hopeful long-range efforts -- the best coming in stoppage time when Maniche's drive was palmed over the bar by Ricardo.

In their two previous meetings Portugal had triumphed 6-0 and 5-1 but this time they had to settle for a slimmer, but far more important victory.

“Our plan was to get three points so 1-0 was as good as 5-0,” said Figo.

“If we win the next match against the team that lost in our group (Iran), they're out and we're through.”

Portugal face Iran in Frankfurt on Saturday after Angola's Friday night game in Hanover against Mexico, who beat the Asian side 3-1 earlier on Sunday to set the Group D pace.

Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves said: “Angola will keep doing what we do, keep playing with great spirit and I'm sure we can make life difficult for Mexico in our next game.”

Teams:

ANGOLA: 1-Joao Ricardo; 20-Loco, 3-Jamba, 5-Kali, 21-Delgado; 17-Ze Kalanga (13-Edson (70)), 8-Andre Macanga, 7-Paulo Figueiredo (6-Miloy (80)), 14-Mendonca; 10-Akwa (c, 9-Mantorras (60)), 11-Mateus.

PORTUGAL: 1-Ricardo; 13-Miguel, 5-Fernando Meira, 16-Ricardo Carvalho, 14-Nuno Valente; 7-Luis Figo (c), 8-Petit (18-Maniche (72)), 19-Tiago (10-Hugo Viana (83)); 17-Cristiano Ronaldo (6-Costinha (60)), 9-Pauleta, 11-Simao.

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay).—Reuters

Group D standings