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Portugal take five point lead to Lisbon
20 JANUARY 2007, c/o IRB
Portugal overcame Morocco 10-5 in front of a partisan Casablanca crowd at the Stade du COC to take the honours in the first leg of their crucial Rugby World Cup repechage tie.
In a tight match, in which all the points were scored in the first half, Cardozo Pinto scored a penalty, a try and a conversion for Portugal to Morocco's try scored by number eight Boutaty.
With a five-point advantage ahead of their home leg in Lisbon on 27 January, Tomaz Morais' men are now favourites to proceed through to the next round against Uruguay.
Portugal were under pressure from the home side for much of the match but led through Pinto's boot after 31 minutes.
Pinto's try on 35 minutes looked to have given Morais' men a strong half time lead, before Boutaty's effort in the fifth minute of added time brought the deficit back to five points at the break.
Morocco mounted a concerted effort in the second half but Portugal's organised defence stood firm.
In the other half of the repechage draw Tonga play Korea in Auckland on 10 February, the winner qualifying directly to take their place in Pool A with England, South Africa, Samoa and USA.
Portugal beat Morocco in World Cup qualifier
Sunday, January 21, 2007, c/o Rugby Heaven
Portugal 10 Morocco 5
Portugal beat Morocco 10-5 in a World Cup qualifier in Casablanca on Saturday.
It was the first game of a European repechage double-header for the right to face Uruguay for a place in the 2007 World Cup.
The second tie will be played in Lisbon on January 27.
AFP