7 Sept - 20 Oct, 2007
Romania (0) 14
Tries: Tincu, Corodeanu
Cons: Calafeteanu, Dumbrava Portugal (7) 10
Try: Ferreira
Con: Pinto Pen: Malheiro
Portugal were denied their first World Cup win as Romania came from behind to edge a keenly-fought match in Toulouse. Romania made a host of mistakes in the opening half and Joaquim Ferreira went over to put Portugal ahead. Portugal were strong in defence but their resistance was broken when Marius Tincu barged over with 16 minutes left. Goncalo Malheiro put Portugal back in front with a penalty but Romania sealed the win through Florin Corodeanu's close-range try late on. Tries: Tincu, Corodeanu
Cons: Calafeteanu, Dumbrava Portugal (7) 10
Try: Ferreira
Con: Pinto Pen: Malheiro
Portugal, playing in their first World Cup, had suffered heavy defeats in their opening three games but fancied their chances of victory following an error-strewn display by their opponents.
The Romanians dominated possession and territory but they could not get any momentum in the opening exchanges and had to rely on a succession of aimless punts forward. And Ferreira made them pay with a try on 20 minutes as Romania threw long and wayward at a line-out. Romania continued to try and get back into the game in the second half and the video referee turned down appeals for a try when Sorin Socol lost the ball as he was bundled over. The gameplans for both sides were pretty much the same and with the backs seeing little of the ball, it was up to the forwards to make ground. And abrasive hooker Marius Tincu got Romania on the board with a try before Malheiro made the score 7-10 with a penalty on 11 minutes. With the Toulouse crowd roaring them on, Portugal battled to retain their advantage but Corodeanu's late score was just enough for his side to deny Portugal an historic victory. Romania: Dumitras; Nicolae, Dimofte, Gontineac, Fercu; Dumbrava, Calafeteanu; Popescu, Mavrodin, B Balan, Ratiu, Petre, Tudori, Manta, Tonita.
Replacements: Tincu, Ion, Socol, Corodeanu, Sirbu, Vlaicu, Brezoianu. Portugal: Leal; Mateus, Sousa, Mateus, Portela; Cardoso Pinto, Jose Pinto; Cordeiro, Ferreira (capt), Spachuck, Goncalo Uva, Penalva, Coutinho, Joao Uva, Girao.
Replacements: Mure, Correia, Palha, Murinello, Pissarra, Malheiro, Carvalho.
Replacements: Tincu, Ion, Socol, Corodeanu, Sirbu, Vlaicu, Brezoianu. Portugal: Leal; Mateus, Sousa, Mateus, Portela; Cardoso Pinto, Jose Pinto; Cordeiro, Ferreira (capt), Spachuck, Goncalo Uva, Penalva, Coutinho, Joao Uva, Girao.
Replacements: Mure, Correia, Palha, Murinello, Pissarra, Malheiro, Carvalho.
Source: BBC Sport
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