Star-studded Portugal were Malta's first opponents in the 2010 World Cup campaign at the National Stadium yesterday.

Coming a year after Malta's excellent performance in the 2-2 draw with Turkey, local fans harboured hopes of another odd-defying coup but it was not to be.

The elegant Portuguese were just too strong, too classy for their Maltese counterparts who, bar a handful of sporadic breakaways in the opening half, were non-existent as an attacking force to the extent that Portugal goalkeeper Quim was not tested once.

After surging ahead in a first half that featured an eight-minute pause due to a power failure, Portugal relied on their subtle technical skills and tactical nous to break down a resolute but limited Maltese team.

Malta had coped well in the first half but the gulf in class between the two teams grew more and more evident as the game wore on. Dusan Fitzel's men were reduced to chasing shadows in all areas of the pitch as the likes of Deco, Nani and the impressive right-back Bosingwa ran the Maltese defence ragged.

Outclassed by Portugal, Malta must now forget this drubbing as quickly as possible and concentrate on their next game, away to Albania on Wednesday when striker Andrè Schembri will be available after seeing out his one-match ban yesterday.

As kick-off loomed, the decibel level at the National Stadium rose, the Maltese fans responding to calls from pitchside 'to make some noise'.

The enthusiasm of the large home crowd increased as the two teams walked onto the pitch for the start of the game.

A rousing rendition of the Maltese national team by Ivan Grech, the frontman of leading local band Wintermoods, was greeted with raucous applause by the supporters.

Living up to their promise to boost the support for the national team, the South End Core decorated the curve with large banners, flags and balloons while red and white confetti were released into the air.

Terrence Scerri's scoring form for Hibs at this early stage of the 2008-09 didn't go unnoticed by Fitzel who handed the lanky striker a starting role. Scerri was Malta's most advanced player yesterday with the pesky Michael Mifsud playing off his shoulder.

Fitzel's tried-and-trusted personnel, the likes of goalkeeper Justin Haber, defenders Brian Said and Luke Dimech and midfielders Gilbert Agius, Jamie Pace and Ivan Woods were all included in Malta's initial XI. Birkirkara's Shaun Bajada stepped into the boots of the unavailable Ian Azzopardi at left-back while Roderick Briffa started at right-back.

Ivan Woods was preferred to George Mallia on the right side of Malta's midfield while Kevin Sammut was deployed on the left.

Of the 20-man squad named by Fitzel last Thursday, Steve Wellman and Roderick Bajada were the ones who failed to make the cut yesterday.

Carlos Quieroz, the Portugal coach, had Werder Bremen's Hugo Almeida as his central striker with Manchester United's Nani and Atletico Madrid's Simao Sabrosa operating on the wings.

Four minutes into the game, Pepe drove his shot over the bar after pouncing on a short clearance by Woods following a corner by Simao Sabrosa.

A power failure at the National Stadium inside the opening 10 minutes of the game led Dutch referee Raymond Blom to interrupt the match due to inadequate lighting, much to the annoyance of the fans.

The match resumed after an eight-minute pause with a corner for Portugal that Haber did well to punch clear.

Mifsud's speed and perseverance delighted the fans as the Coventry City forward almost hustled Pepe out of possession in the Portugal box.

Malta won a corner when Woods' dipping free-kick took a deflection off a Portugal defender. With Sammut's corner easily cleared by the Portugal defence, danger loomed for Malta as the visitors broke on the counter but Briffa did well to head away Simao's attempt at a cross.

Malta had rarely been stretched by Portugal in the opening exchanges but the first flowing move by the visitors yielded a goal on 28 minutes. Bosingwa got behind the backtracking Maltese defence and delivered a low cross from the right which Said deflected into his own net in an attempt to clear.

With Deco dictating matters from midfield, Portugal now established a foothold in the match but Malta did manage to unsettle the opposing defence once when Sammut set Mifsud on a run in a two-against-two situation. Maltese optimism fell when the on-rushing Pace failed to control the ball after receiving a pass from Mifsud.

Malta spent the remainder of the first half soaking up Portugal's pressure without ever threatening to get an equaliser as Mifsud and Scerri were forced to feed on scraps.

Both Fitzel and Queiroz made no changes to their teams during half-time.

Nine minutes into the second half, Nani turned well inside the box but his low strike was easily blocked by Haber. Moments later, Dimech came to Bajada's rescue by nudging the ball away from Almeida who had intercepted a wayward backpass by the Birkirkara midfielder.

Said and Haber also effected two salvaging effects to deny Simao and Nani in quick succession after Bosingwa had again tormented Malta with a strong run down the right.

Fitzel's first substitution came after 13 minutes of the second half, Mallia coming on for Woods. Three minutes later, Portugal increased their lead, Almeida surprising Haber with a strong low shot from outside the box.

Getting on the end of a throughball from midfield, Nani advanced menacingly but he stroked the ball just wide of the far post as Haber rushed out to close the angle. It was now a matter of when not if would Portugal extend their lead and Simao Sabrosa scored goal no.3. The Portugal skipper fired home from close range after Haber had parried Nani's effort.

Joao Moutinho, who had just replaced Simao, would have left an instant mark on the game but for Haber who repelled his grounder after some fine work by the outstanding Deco.

Twelve minutes from time, Nani got in on the scoring act when lifting the ball over Haber from close range amid more woeful defending by the tiring hosts.

Five minutes from time, Haber denied Portugal a fifth goal when pushing away a downward header by substitute Maniche.

Malta J. Haber, S. Bajada, B. Said, L. Dimech, G. Agius (captain) ('80 R. Fenech), R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, I. Woods ('58 G. Mallia), T. Scerri ('70 E. Barbara), K. Sammut, J. Pace.

Portugal Quim, Bosingwa, Pepe, R. Carvalho, Antunes, R. Meireles, Nani, C. Martins ('63 Maniche), H. Almeida ('66 Nuno Gomes), Deco, S. Simao ('75 J. Moutinho).

Referee: Raymond Bernie Blom (Netherlands).

Scorers: Said 28 og; Almeida 61; Simao 71; Nani 78