Pepe, Silva the heroes

Portugal’s players pose as they celebrate their side’s 2-1 win, at the end of the Confederations Cup, third place soccer match between Portugal and Mexico, at the Moscow Spartak Stadium on July 2. (AP)

sult, we needed to show our best in the third-place game. Luckily we did everything right.”

European champions Portugal were without captain Cristiano Ronaldo after the Real Madrid star was released from the squad to return home to meet his newborn twins.

Portugal and Mexico drew 2-2 in the opening game of the group stage, when Hector Moreno salvaged a last-gasp point for the Gold Cup winners, but were left fighting for a consolation prize in the Russian capital.

Portugal should have gone in front in the drizzling rain on 17 minutes when Andre Silva was upended by 38-yearold Rafael Marquez, with the video assistant referee stepping in to award the spot-kick.

But Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa flung himself superbly to his

Portugal’s Pepe (right), and Mexico’s Javier Hernandez vie for the ball during the Confederations Cup, third place soccer match between Portugal

and Mexico, at the Moscow Spartak Stadium on July 2. (AP)

right to tip Andre Silva’s low spot-kick round the post.

Rui Patricio produced a sharp stop to deny Javier Hernandez, Mexico’s alltime leading scorer, from close range on the half hour, but the Portugal keeper was beaten shortly after the break.

Hernandez’s cross from the byline floated beyond Carlos Vela and Patricio, with Zenit St Petersburg centreback Neto unwittingly turning the ball home.