Pepe scores to give Portuguese 2-0 victory over Turkey

GENEVA, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Defender Pepe opened the scoring at the 61st minute and Raul Meireles added one in injury time to give Portugal a 2-0 victory over the hard-core Turkish team in a Group A match at Euro 2008 here on Saturday.

Pepe had a goal disallowed at the 18th minute for off-side. But he didn't let go the chance the second time.

The tall defender charged forward and played a swift one-two with Nuno Gomes before sweeping his shot past Turkish goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.

The goal is just good enough to put Portugal on top of Group A together with Czech Republic who earlier beat co-hosts Switzerland in Basel 1-0.

The Portuguese team, the losing finalists four years ago at Euro 2004, enjoyed a great advantage in the first half, having 61 percent of ball possession thanks to to their superb dribbling ability.

Cristiano Ronaldo posed the greatest threat to the Turkish defence.

He hit post with a free-kick and had his two shots blocked by defenders and saved by Turkish goalkeeper respectively.

He didn't have a goal to his own in the match. But it was his penetration that often caused turmoils of the Turkish defence line and created chances for his teammates.

Gomes also was unlucky in the match. The forward was eager to break the deadlock in the first half but he was often caught by the Turkish off-side trap.

Gomes played smarter in the second half, but twice his attempts were denied by bars.

He hit the post at the 50th mark and then hit the cross-bar again at the 65th minute.

He was then substituted by Nani four minutes laters.