/world sport
ZURICH, Switzerland -- Italy produced a typically efficient performance to beat Portugal 3-1 in a friendly international in Zurich on Wednesday.
Italy players celebrate Luca Toni's opening goal in the 3-1 victory over Portugal in Zurich.
Bayern Munich forward Luca Toni opened the scoring in first-half injury-time and AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo doubled the advantage six minutes after the break with a shot from distance.
Ricardo Quaresma pulled a goal back with less than a quarter of an hour to play but two minutes later Udinese forward Fabio Quagliarella sealed the victory.
Portugal dominated possession in the first period but Italy proved the more clinical in creating chances and deservedly went in front on the stroke of half-time.
They already had a Pirlo strike disallowed for handball on four minutes, while Udinese's Antonio Di Natale missed the ball completely on 13 minutes with the goal at his mercy from a right-wing cross by Juventus' Raffaele Palladino.
Palladino set Di Natale up again but Real Betis goalkeeper Ricardo parried his snap shot and at the other end Portugal striker Ariza Makukula fired just wide from the edge of the box.
Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia saved a wicked free-kick from Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo three minutes before the break before Portugal then wasted a two-on-one break.
Quaresma overhit his pass to Ronaldo, pushing the Manchester United star too far wide and allowing the desperate Italy defenders to regroup and clear.
Portugal were made to pay dearly within a minute when substitute full-back Fabio Grosso crossed from the left and both goalkeeper Ricardo and Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho failed to cut out the ball, allowing Toni to prod home at the back post.
Just after the re-start Toni was twice denied in quick succession by Ricardo and Jose Bosingwa but from the resulting corner Pirlo took a swing from outside the box with a slight deflection coming off team-mate Fabio Cannavaro and causing the ball to bobble up and beat the unsighted Ricardo.
Italy started to dominate and Ricardo tipped a Palladino volley onto the bar as the world champions threatened to run riot.
Portugal finally started to look dangerous in the latter stages and Quaresma crashed home a low cross from the left by Manchester United winger Nani with 14 minutes to play.
But almost immediately Portugal's defense went missing at the other end and Quagliarella turned home a headed flick-on from Roma's Simone Perrotta. E-mail to a friend 
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