Portugal 4 Poland 0
Portugal thanked a stylish hat-trick from Pauleta and a late effort from Rui Costa to put their World Cup campaign right back on track at Jeonju today as they blew Poland away 4-0.
With both nations having lost their opening ties today’s Group D encounter was crucial to the hopes of both nations.
Bordeaux striker Pauleta's treble and Costa's late icing on the cake meant his country moved to within a point of co-hosts South Korea and the United States, who earlier parted 1-1 in Daegu.
And it also meant goodbye to Polish hopes as they have yet to take a point or score a single goal.
The Portuguese, who dropped Rui Costa for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Paulo Bento to start alongside Joao Pinto, had been highly favoured to win the group.
But after a disastrous 3-2 loss to the United States they were doubly intent on providing coach Antonio Oliveira with a 50th birthday present.
Once Pauleta opened the scoring on 14 minutes there was no doubt about that.
Despite the torrential rain Portugal made a lively start as Pauleta shot wide after eight minutes and then looped a shot into the arms of Polish keeper Jerzy Dudek off a right-wing corner from Luis Figo.
But the Bordeaux striker made it third time lucky in the 14th minute with a vicious right-footed shot which zipped inside Dudek's near post.
Portugal had moments earlier suffered an injury scare when Frechaut, who replaced the injured Beto in defence, appeared to turn his ankle - but he was able to continue.
The Poles suffered worse luck when Rodoslaw Kaluzny had to give way to Arkadiusz Bak.
Piotr Swierczewski whipped in an effort as the Poles sought to get back on level terms but Portuguese shot-stopper Vitor Baia, at fault for two of the US goals last week, was untroubled as the ball sailed over his crossbar.
The Pole then earned himself a suspension by fouling Pauleta for his second booking of the event.
Scottish referee Hugh Dallas was busy as he also cautioned Jorge Costa, Frechaut and Rui Jorge.
The Portuguese looked aghast at Dallas, having tried to secure a different man in the middle than the fourth official at their Euro 2000 semi-final defeat on a controversial penalty to France.
His report saw three Portuguese stars suspended.
But that night was forgotten as Portugal steped through the gears after the break.
Pauleta scored his second to kill the tie after 65 matches, sliding in to bundle home from six yards out after a fine low cross from the right flank by Luis Figo.
Figo was desperately unlucky not to add a third within barely a minute, a curling right-foot effort from the edge of the box coming back off the post.
Nuno Capucho came on for Sergei Conceicao for his first World Cup appearance as Portugal threw on a fresh pair of legs in the soaking, strength-sapping conditions with 16 minutes remaining.
And after Petit had smashed a drive narrowly wide Paulet made it three, turning Tomasz Waldoch inside out.
He could have added a fourth himself - but fired wide from an acute angle with seven minutes left.
Rui Costa took that honour after stretching low to convert a Capucho cross in the 87th minute.
Costa, who replaced the ineffectual Pinto on the hour, should have made it five in the final minute but his mishit was cleared off the line.
AFP