Treble delight for rain man Pauleta

13 April 2012

Portugal found a new hero in their hour of need when striker Pauleta ended Poland's World Cup with a superb hat-trick.

After their miserable defeat by the USA, Portugal needed a new star to shine out from the clouds that have shrouded their underperforming players, and the Bordeaux striker, joint top scorer in France last season, answered the call.

With Luis Figo looking sharper and a much-improved defence marshalled by Fernando Couto, the Poles were rarely in the hunt.

As the monsoon broke in Korea, so Poland's hopes went down the drain and Rui Costa poured on the misery with a late fourth.

After being outclassed by the hosts in the opening game, Poland had tried to ruffle Portugal's feathers by flying into tackles and closing down space.

It worked, but only for a time, and Portugal began to exert their will. It was 29-year-old Pauleta, one of the few Portuguese players to have had a half-decent game in the 3-2 defeat by the US, who had two shots in quick succession from distance, one off-target and the second looped straight to Jerzy Dudek.

In the 13th minute, he did finally beat Dudek. Frechaut had just come on to the field after receiving treatment for an injury when the ball fortuitously arrived at his feet. Joao Pinto picked up possession infield and curled a cross to Pauleta who controlled the ball on his knee, rounded Tomasz Hajto and belted it past Dudek at the Liverpool keeper's near-post.

The Poles tried to step up the pressure but their final ball was too often wasted. Emmanuel Olisadebe looked their best hope of a reply, but his drive from the edge of the box was saved by Vitor Baia.

Olisadebe, Marek Kozminski and Jacek Krzynowek failed to break their scoring duck after an energetic start to the second half, and when they did get the ball in the net it was ruled out for a foul on Baia.

After 64 minutes, Portugal and more specifically Figo, finally came alive again.

Olisadebe lost possession in his opponents' half, Petit fed Beto who picked out Figo's run down the right and the world player of the year provided the cross for Pauleta to beat Dudek from close range.

Pauleta then turned provider, rolling the ball along the edge of the box for the Real Madrid star Figo to strike a firm, curling shot which went past Dudek but smacked off the post. Pauleta's hat-trick came with 15 minutes left.

Rui Costa, only a substitute today, played a lovely cross-field ball, but there was still plenty for Pauleta to do - which he did, sending Tomasz Waldoch the wrong way and then firing past Dudek. Pawel Kryszalowicz skied a shot over the bar from six yards, while Pauleta could have had a personal tally of four after rounding Dudek but failed to find the target.

Rui Costa provided the grandstand finish though. Capucho burst through down the right and the AC Milan midfielder beat Pauleta to the cross to leave Dudek with no chance.

It could have been five when Rui Costa left Dudek sprawling in injury-time, but his effort was cleared off the line.

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Treble delight for rain man Pauleta

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