World Cup - Portugal 4 Poland 0

Portugal hit four goals in a drenched Jianju to knock Poland out of the World Cup with the second hat-trick of the tournament from Bordeaux striker Pauleta.

It is Portugal’s national day today and coach Antonio Oliveira’s birthday and the football team got back on track to qualify from Group D after their dire display against the US last week.

Pauleta hit a drive on nine minutes just wide and was on hand five minutes later to get o the end of a great driven crossfield pass from the right allowed the striker to get space and thigh trap the ball carrying it inside a defender and shoot in at the inside post past goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

Dudek had to save at Pauleta’s feet on the half-hour with Poish defender Tomas Hajto lucky to stay on for raking his studs down a prone Joao Pinto’s legs in the 41st minute as the rain was at its heaviest.

Pauleta again forced Dudek from his goal line to save at his feet in the 51st minute but Portugal had a lucky escape at 1-1.

Goalkeeper Vitor Baia dropped a cross and Zurawski headed in on 59 minutes but substitute Kryszalowicz was penalized for his innocuous challenge on the goalkeeper who was poor on several crosses.

But the Portuguese defence was in better form than against the US with Petit’s ball-winning helping midfield alongside a more impressive Luis Figo who looked reasonably fit.

Pauleta knocked in Figo’s low cross from the right on 65 minutes and then completed his hat-trick thirteen minutes later by collecting a cross to the left wing and dummying a defender to create space on the outside and drive past Dudek.

Substitute Rui Costa knocked in Nuno Capucho’s cross from the left with three minutes to go as Poland collapsed to a heavy defeat.

Rui Costa rounded Dudek in the last few seconds but then hit a weak shot allowing two defenders to clear on the goal line.