The Lazio midfielder applied the finishing touch to Pauleta's cross-shot in the 33rd minute to damage Germany's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

Portugal made nine changes to the team who beat Romania in the last second to guarantee top spot in Group A but their new-look defence was in early disarray.

Keeper Pedro Espinha got away with a sloppy clearance and Paulo Sousa was caught in possession on the edge of his area but Germany were unable to capitalise.

Espinha looked more assured in the fifth minute when he punched Sebastian Deisler's cross off the head of Carsten Jancker.

Keeper Oliver Kahn could only watch anxiously as Sa Pinto's driven cross looped into the air off Thomas Linke in the 12th minute. It sailed over the stricken goalkeeper and landed inches over the bar, in the roof of the netting.

Kahn then produced a fabulous save, low to his right, to keep his team level.

Conceicao crossed from the right and Pauleta was first to the ball but the German skipper tipped his close-range shot round the post. Inexplicably, a goal-kick was given.

Lothar Matthaus, whose appearance made him the first footballer to 150 international caps, linked up with Michael Ballack to release Jancker but Pedro Espinha was quickly out to quash the threat.

Dietmar Hamann skipped past two challenges and into the penalty area but his shot cannoned off the back of Fernando Couto and wide. The Liverpool man then dragged a shot wide from 20 yards as Germany dominated possession.

Marco Bode crashed a left-foot drive against the foot of Pedro Espinha's left-hand post, in the 31st minute, as the Germans continued to carve open the Portuguese defence.

Deft control and a swift cross from Pauleta on the break was too quick for his team-mates but handed Germany a warning not to neglect their defensive cover.

Seconds later Portugal's livewire striker did even greater damage, latching onto a Rui Jorge pass to deliver a cross, which took a deflection off Marko Rehmer's attempted block and looped over Kahn to the far post.

Conceicao applied the finishing touch with a brave close-range header and found himself bundled into the net with the ball by Kahn's last-ditch attempt to save.