ENGLAND'S penalty shoot-out jinx struck again last night as they crashed out of Euro 2004 in a storm of controversy.

The dramatic exit against host nation Portugal came after England had been denied what appeared to be a perfectly good winning goal seconds from the end of normal time.

Sol Campbell's headed "winner" was disqualified, leaving England feeling robbed and facing extra-time with the score at 1-1.

All seemed lost when Portugal took the lead in the second half of extra-time, only for Frank Lampard to keep English hopes alive with an equaliser.

But after David Beckham ballooned the opening penalty over the bar, followed by another miss by Darius Vassell, England's dream was over.

England had taken the lead after just three minutes through Michael Owen but the night began to turn sour when teenage wonder kid Wayne Rooney had to be substituted due to injury before half-time.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's men had been outplayed for much of the night but showed tremendous character to take the game down to the wire.

Afterwards, Eriksson said: "To lose in this way is very hard. The spirit has been fantastic and I have no complaints about anything - the players and the atmosphere have been fantastic."

He added: "I don't want to comment on the referee - but we were not lucky with some things out there tonight. That's football unfortunately.

"From the bench the goal looked all right. I haven't seen it on television but the referee said it was a push and he decides."

Owen said losing on penalties in a major tournament once again was a bitter blow. "It always seems to happen," he said.

In Lisbon, many dejected England fans were in tears.

Debbie Thorne, 29, from the Isle of Wight said: "I blame Beckham. He was the first penalty taker, and if you choose to take the first one you have to score."

A spokesman for William Hill said Portugal were now 9/4 second favourites to win the tournament, with France favourites at 2/1.

Earlier, more than 1,500 homes in the Staindrop area, near Darlington, were plunged into darkness at 5pm.

Eight hundred homes had their power restored by 8pm but by then scores had already fled the area to find a TV set to watch the game.