Euro 2012: Portugal beating Denmark a 'just' result, says coach

Lviv, June 14 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Portugal more than deserved their 3-2 win against Denmark at Euro 2012, coach Paulo Bento said.

Portugal had to rely on a last-gasp strike from substitute Silvestre Varela to snatch all three points after Nicklas Bendtner thought he had secured a draw with his second headed goal of the game.

"I think the 2-2 would be unjust for us. We could have won this game a lot more calmly," he said about his wasteful side.

The chief culprit for Portugal was Cristiano Ronaldo, who squandered two one-on-one chances, pushing one into the open arms of Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen and a second past the post.

"A 3-1 would have been the end of this game at the moment," Bento said of Ronaldo's second miss.

But Bento defended his star forward, who is notorious for failing to reproduce his scintillating club form on the international stage, when asked whether the pressure was getting to the Real Madrid man.

"He has the same pressure as all the other players that want to contribute. He was in some difficult situations, but from our point of view he has shown two very good games and I am very certain that not a single player in our squad might be dissatisfied."

Defender Pepe, who put Portugal ahead with a near-post header in the first half, also jumped to his clubmate's defence.

"Today Cristiano couldn't score but he has done this on other occasions and he helped the team and showed how professional he is."

With the win Portugal go level with Germany and Denmark on three points in Group B, but the Germans can secure qualification later if they beat the Dutch.

Portugal play the Netherlands Sunday in their last group game.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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