http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/news/kind=1/newsid=519930.html Quresma charisma thrills Portugal Sunday, 25 March 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ricardo Quaresma's first goal for Portugal was a birthday gift for his mother, but the 4-0 win against Belgium was something for the whole nation to enjoy. Tremendous third Manchester United FC's Cristiano Ronaldo may feel he deserves his share of the credit for scoring twice in Saturday's UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying triumph in Lisbon, but FC Porto winger Quaresma stole the show with a tremendous strike with the outside of his right foot for Portugal's third of the night. Swerving effort Quaresma hit the post with a similar effort for Porto against Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League, and was delighted to see his 69th-minute strike against Belgium swerve over visiting goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen and into the net to thrill the crowd at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. 'To my mother' "My goal? Even I can't explain that," said the 23-year-old after breaking his international duck in his eight appearance for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side. "It's just something that happens during a game. It has do to with the work I do everyday. I want to dedicate this goal to my mother because it's her birthday." Free role The Brazilian coach was delighted with the exciting winger's virtuoso performance saying: "We asked him to play like he normally does for his club and he managed to do just that. We gave him the freedom to create beautiful things and the goal shows exactly what he is capable of." Momentum restored The victory has got Portugal's campaign back on track again following a 2-1 defeat against Poland in their previous Group A game, and they will hope to keep the momentum going as they take on a Serbia side reeling from a 2-1 defeat in Kazakhstan in Belgrade on Wednesday. By design However, Quaresma was quick to point out that the win against Belgium was no walk in the park. "The game was easy because we made it that way," he said. "They opened up in the second half and that helped us. We deserved to win." With Portugal having proved that they have dangerous wingers on both flanks in Ronaldo and Quaresma, their race for a place at next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland is right back on. --

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