Zidane's ;golden' strike puts France in final

BRUSSELS, JUNE 29. Zinedine Zidane fired a `golden goal' penalty a minute before the end of extra-time to send France into Sunday's Euro 2000 final with a 2-1 victory over Portugal here on Wednesday.

Zidane converted the spotkick after the Austrian referee Gunter Benko penalised Portugal's Abel Xavier for handling Sylvain Wiltord's shot after consulting Belgian assistant referee Roland van Nylen at the King Baudouin stadium.

The award of the penalty sparked furious scenes and it took several minutes for order to be restored so Zidane could take the kick. After Zidane converted for the World champion, Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes was sent off while the jubilant French players celebrated.

Thierry Henry's 51st minute equaliser for the World champion had earlier forced the match into extra-time after a spectacular Nuno Gomes volley had given outsider Portugal a 19th- minute lead.

Portugal coach Humberto Coelho announced his resignation after the match and rued the penalty decision that proved decisive. His French counterpart Roger Lemerre said ``it was a very difficult victory but when you choose a game-plan you have to stick to it and winning is all important''.

Zidane, a national hero in France since scoring two goals in France's 3-0 World Cup final win over Brazil in 1998, reflected on his match-winning moment. ''For the penalty I just put down the ball and I said to myself I must hit it as hard as possible,`` said Zidane.

The vital moment of an enthralling encounter came after 115 minutes - although with the subsequent pandemonium it took another four minutes for Zidane to take the penalty.

With five minutes of extra time left, substitute David Trezeguet ran into the box and was challenged by Portugal keeper Vitor Baia. The ball spun to Wiltord who fired from an acute angle on the right and Xavier deflected the ball behind the goal with his hand.

France made two changes with Nicolas Anelka coming in for Christophe Dugarry up front and Emmanuel Petit replacing Youri Djorkaeff. Coelho brought in Vidigal into midfield instead of Paulo Bento and Abel Xavier in at right back in changes from the last game. Joao Pinto did not feature in the starting line-up leaving Nuno Gomes as a lone striker.

But Gomes opened the scoring with an unstoppable left foot shot from the edge of the area after 19 minutes. Xavier fed Sergio Conceicao on the right who cut inside with both Petit and Didier Deschamps, winning his 100th cap and 51st as skipper, failing to get in a telling challenge. The ball then fell to Gomes who, with his back to goal, turned and shot in one movement a curling ball into the top left hand corner for his fourth goal of the tournament. During the first period Vieira, who fouled Figo on left wing, and Marcel Desailly earned Yellow Cards for France. Portugal's Vidigal also earned a caution in the 44th minute.

France came out with a new attacking approach after the break which had the Portuguese players rattled. Lilian Thuram on the right flank hit a right foot pass into the right hand side of the box. Anelka, lurking near the by-line, cut the ball back into the centre of the box and Henry swivelled and hit a diagonal shot into Baia's right-hand corner.

Portugal, clearly feeling the pressure, earned Yellow Cards in quick succession for Figo, Jorge Costa and Dimas. Coelho brought on Bento on for Vidigal in midfield moments before Zidane fed Henry who raced into the area but his left foot shot was blocked at point blank range by Fernando Couto.

Sylvain Wiltord came on for Anelka and Joao Pinto was introduced in place of Rui costa. In injury time, Barthez made a vital save from Xavier's header after a Luis Figo freekick.

At the start of extra time Rui Jorge was brought on in place of Dimas moments before Zidane headed over a Wiltord cross from the left. Lemerre brought on Trezeguet for Henry to yet again change the attacking duo and Wiltord might have won the match with a good shot, deflected off Xavier, but it was well caught low down by Baia on the goal-line.

Then came the penalty incident which propelled the World champion into the final to keep it on course to add the European title to its global crown.

- AFP

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