FRANKFURT - Portugal on Saturday became the sixth team to qualify for the knockout stage of the World Cup in Germany, a stunning goal from Deco and a penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo giving them a 2-0 win over Iran.
Playmaker Deco hit a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area in the 63rd minute to give Portugal the lead and Ronaldo slammed home a penalty in the 80th minute.
The result in Frankfurt's Waldstadion ensures that Portugal, with a maximum six points from their first two games, will qualify for the second round for the first time since 1966.
"We respected Iran but we imposed our quality," said Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Iran coach Branko Ivankovic said: "It was an evenly balanced match but Deco scored a quality goal and after that it was very hard for us to equalize."
Mexico are favorites to clinch the other qualifying spot in Group D although Angola also have an outside chance. Iran are certain to depart after two defeats.
The Czech Republic and Italy could also book places in the last 16 later on Saturday if they win their Group E games against Ghana and the United States respectively.
Ecuador, England, Germany and the Netherlands have also qualified for the next round with a group game to spare, as have Argentina, who produced the performance of the tournament so far with a 6-0 demolition of Serbia & Montenegro on Friday.
Iran's departure after the first round is likely to be a relief to German organizers as coach Ivankovic had said the country's outspoken President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would visit if the team made the knockout stage.
About 500 people, many waving Israeli flags, protested against Ahmadinejad's government in Frankfurt before Saturday's match.
"Ahmadinejad is a threat to us all," read one banner.
The Iranian leader has attracted international condemnation for saying Israel should be "wiped off the map" and questioning whether the Holocaust took place.
Mohammad Aliabadi, one of Iran's seven vice presidents and responsible for sport policy, has been accompanying the national team in Germany.
"The Holocaust is being denied and there is a call for genocide," Rene Pollak, head of the Zionist Organization Frankfurt, told Reuters Television.
"A representative from such a regime has no place at a big international soccer tournament," Pollak said.
Demonstrators staged a similar protest before Iran's first match of the month-long tournament last Sunday.
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