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OPORTO,July 2 (AFP): Traianos Dellas' silver goal gave Greece a dramatic 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic and a place in the final of Euro 2004 here Thursday.
Otto Rehhagel's side, who beat 2000 champions France in the quarter-finals, will meet hosts Portugal in Sunday's final, the team they beat in their opening group match.
With the scores deadlocked, Roma defender Dellas met Vasilios Tsiartas' corner at the near post in the final minute of first-half extra-time and planted a firm header into the net for his first ever goal for his country and take Greece into their first ever final.
The Czechs dominated in regulation time, but lost their shape after their talsimanic captain Pavel Nedved limped off with a knee injury towards the end of the first-half.
Appearing in only their third tournament, the Greeks have revelled in their tag as underdogs.
In their only other appearance at the European championships in 1980, Greece finished bottom of their group behind eventual winners West Germany.
In their only appearance at a World Cup in 1994 in the United States they finished bottom of their group with no points.
Both coaches made one change to the teams that started their quarter-final matches.
Czech defender Martin Jiranek failed to recover from a groin strain and was replaced at right-back by Zdenek Grygera, while Fiorentina striker Zisis Vryzas returned for Greece having served a one-match suspension.
The Czechs came within inches of taking the lead in the third minute when Marek Jankulovski's free-kick was flicked on by Jan Koller for his Borussia Dortmund team-mate Tomas Rosicky whose half-volley struck the crossbar.
Greek goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis palmed away Marek Jankulovski's left-footed drive three minutes later as the Czechs kept up the early pressure before Koller went close with a header.
The Greeks played some neat one-touch football but lacked the quality of a Czech team that always looked threatening going forward, with Milan Baros' electric pace proving a real handful.
But Greece survived the early barrage and might have nicked a goal just before the half hour, Angelos Charisteas prevented from reaching Vryzas' left-wing cross by Petr Cech's outstretched fingers.
Jankulovski stung Nikopolidis' palms before the Czechs suffered a major blow with the loss of Nedved.
Nedved, a booking away from missing the final, was replaced by Vladimir Smicer and Karel Poborsky took the skipper's armband.
Jankulovski's chipped shot cleared the bar by inches just before the half-time whistle.
Baros got in Koller's way just as the giant striker was about to connect with Poborsky's left-wing corner as the Czechs took control at the start of the second-half and Rosicky fired wide from 20 yards after collecting Koller's clever reverse pass.
Vryzas headed straight into Cech's grateful hands in the 68th minute and seconds later Poborsky's cheeky lob lopped over the bar.
Koller should have scored 11 minutes from time after a neat exchange of passes with Rosicky, but with the goal at his mercy he dragged his shot wide from 12 yards.
Cech's quick reflexes prevented substitute Stylianos Giannakopoulos from giving Greece the lead in the 95th minute before the Chelsea-bound keeper parried away Vryzas' point-blank header.
With seconds to go before the second period of extra-time, Dellas headed the ball past a stranded Cech to send the 10,000 Greek fans into raptures.
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