Greece reached the Euro 2004 football tournament quarter-finals despite losing 2-1 to Russia in their final Group A match on Sunday.

Portugal's 1-0 victory over Spain sent the Greeks into the last eight.

Greece and Spain finished their group matches with four points but the former went through by virtue of scoring more goals. Greece had four goals scored and four conceded while Spain scored two and conceded two.

Needing only a draw to guarantee a place in the last eight, Greece made the worst possible start by going a goal down after just 65 seconds.

Striker Dmitry Kirichenko burst through the middle of the Greek defence and fired past keeper Antonis Nikopolidis for already eliminated Russia's first goal of the tournament.

The Russians doubled their lead 15 minutes later when unmarked striker Dmitry Bulykin powered home a diving header from a Rolan Gusev corner.

It could have been even worse for the dazed Greeks, but Russian midfielder Andrei Karayka volleyed a great chance over from close range midway through the first half.

Greece grabbed a lifeline two minutes before halftime when striker Zisis Vryzas pulled one back, making space to chip over goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev after Dimitrios Papadopoulous headed the ball down into his path.

The Russians, who came into the match on the back of a record winless streak of nine games at European Championships, continued to play with greater freedom in the second half.

Substitute Dmitry Sychev almost made it 3-1 after 61 minutes but goalkeeper Nikopolidis beat away his shot.

Greece, who beat Portugal and drew with Spain in their first two matches, badly missed injured midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos and the suspended Giorgos Karagounis.

Midfielder Vassilis Tsartas almost equalised for Greece in the 78th minute but Malafeyev did well to save his bending free kick.

Teams:

Russia (4-4-2): 12-Vyacheslav Malafeyev; 16-Vadim Yevseyev, 13-Roman Sharonov (17-Dmitry Sennikov 56), 21-Alexei Bugayev, 14-Alexander Anyukov; 5-Andrei Karyaka (6-Igor Semshov 46), 2-Vladislav Radimov, 15-Dmitry Alenichev, 8-Rolan Gusev; 9-Dimitry Bulykin (3-Dmitry Sychev), 18-Dmitry Kirichenko.

Greece (4-5-1): 1-Antonis Nikopolidis; 2-Yourkas Seitaridis, 19-Michalis Kapsis, 5-Traianos Dellas, 3-Stelios Venetidis (14-Takis Fyssas 89); 9-Angelos Haristeas, 21-Costas Katsouranis, 7-Theodoros Zagorakis, 6-Angelos Basinas (10-Vassilis Tsartas 41), 22-Dimitrios Papadopoulos (11-Demis Nikolaidis 69); 15-Zisis Vryzas.

Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France).

Linesmen: Frederic Arnault (France), Serge Vallin (France).