LISBON, June 21: Hosts Portugal reached the Euro 2004 quarterfinals with a famous 1-0 win over Spain on Sunday and sent their greatest rivals out of the tournament. Greece's goal against Russia in a surprise 2-1 defeat ultimately proved priceless for the group outsiders, who qualified in second place ahead of Spain on goals scored.

In the last eight, group winners Portugal will meet the Group 'B' runners-up while Greece will meet the Group 'B' winners. France lead that group from England, Croatia and Switzerland.

The Portuguese went into the Group 'A' game needing a win to advance and got it courtesy of a sharp shot on the turn by Nuno Gomes 12 minutes after he had come on as halftime substitute.

The victory, 23 years to the day since their last win over Spain, was just reward for Portugal's enterprise against a side at first content to sit deep and play for the point they needed.

It marked a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for both sides after the host nation had begun the tournament with a shock 2-1 defeat by Greece while Spain eased past Russia 1-0.

Fans of the Iberian neighbours had been on the streets of Lisbon all day in anticipation of the clash but the enormity of the occasion seemed to get to both teams as the opening 20 minutes was punctuated by poor control and misplaced passes.

Cristiano Ronaldo, enjoying his first Portugal start of the tournament, was a constant threat on both wings and missed their best first-half chance when he headed a Luis Figo cross wide in the 45th minute.

Spain were reluctant to commit men to attack and had only a Fernando Torres header over the bar a minute earlier to show for their limited efforts. Portugal's Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari sent on Nuno Gomes for the ineffective Pauleta at halftime and the change soon had an impact.

Figo slid a pass into his feet at the edge of the box in the 57th minute and the striker turned and fired low past Iker Casillas to send the Jose Alvalade Stadium crowd into raptures.

Spain, forced to change tactics and go for the equaliser, came close to getting it five minutes later when Torres beat the offside trap but poked his shot against a post.

Portugal hit back and Casillas made two sharp saves in a minute to keep out a Figo free kick and a close-range header by Jorge Andrade. Spain went close through substitute Albert Luque and then Juanito, whose looping header grazed the top of the bar, as they threw everyone forward in a desperate last 20 minutes.

As the noise level was cranked up, so was the excitement. Spain's all out attack left gaps at the back and Nuno Valente was off target with a free header in the 88th minute.

Spanish defender Raul Bravo then made a fantastic goal line clearance to keep out a Maniche shot and Nuno Gomes was foiled by Casillas in injury time before the final whistle sounded to spark a wild night of celebrations in Lisbon.

Needing only a draw to guarantee a place in the last eight, Greece made the worst possible start by going a goal down after just 65 seconds. Striker Dmitry Kirichenko burst through the middle of the Greek defence and fired past keeper Antonis Nikopolidis for already eliminated Russia's first goal of the tournament.

The Russians doubled their lead 15 minutes later when unmarked striker Dmitry Bulykin powered home a diving header from a Rolan Gusev corner. It could have been even worse for the dazed Greeks, but Russian midfielder Andrei Karayka volleyed a great chance over from close range midway through the first half.

Greece grabbed a lifeline two minutes before halftime when striker Zisis Vryzas pulled one back, making space to chip over goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev after Dimitrios Papadopoulous headed the ball down into his path. - Reuters

Group 'A' standings: (tabulated under - played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):