KEY POINTS:
Romania 14
Portugal 10
Nine minutes from glory. Portugal were that close to a historic victory in what may be their first and last World Cup before the Romanian musclemen ground down their rivals.
Portugal had beaten Romania only once before in their rugby history but under leaden
skies in Toulouse they looked as though they might double that quota.
However, the emotion they showed during their national anthem was matched by tears at the bell as they looked at a narrow defeat marking their tournament exit. Asked if they can improve in 2011, retiring skipper Joaquim Ferreira simply said: "We must, we must."
This was a battle of the section cellar-dwellers - unless you believe Romania can topple the All Blacks at the same ground on Saturday - and it was a very even slugfest.
There was little finesse from two sides intent on hoeing into each other, battling for some late honour for their countries, giving everything in a mega-struggle at Stadium de Toulouse.
It was heart-in-your-mouth stuff for the lively supporters from Portugal and Romania, an epic struggle as rain interfered with the second half, but for others it would not have been massive entertainment.
However, for 62 minutes Portugal dared to believe they would claim a final match victory as they held the lead through a converted driving try to Ferreira.
New Zealand referee Paul Honis tried to signal a try to Romania before he wisely decided to check with the video referee, who advised that the would-be scorer had lost the ball forward.
The reprieve was only brief, though, as Romania ended a 150 minute try-scoring drought at this World Cup when replacement prop Marius Tincu crunched over to level the scores.
A penalty to replacement five-eighths Goncalo Malheiro returned the lead to Portugal before they conceded another driving try to the bulky Romanian pack.
If the All Blacks watched the match, they would have seen little to worry them on Saturday, though they would have thought that before their last game against Scotland B.
Romania have a compact scrum and are organised around their pack but lack much backline attack and rely on the booming kicks from fullback Iulian Dumitras to gain them territory.
They will defend stoutly, should have a resilient scrum and lineout but if the All Blacks spread the ball wide, they should shred the Romanian backline screens.