🔗 Share this article

Rúben Neves came to the rescue for the Portuguese side with a injury-time decisive strike in their World Cup encounter against Ireland, after Caoimhín Kelleher had denied a spot-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Game Summary

Neves headed home during added time to claim a narrow victory, four years after the star striker had scored twice at the death to overcome a stubborn Ireland team.

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men looked set to leave Lisbon with a well-earned point, but in the end suffered defeat, despite restoring a good deal of pride with a gritty performance that overshadowed some of the memories of last month’s embarrassing loss in Armenia.

However, the loss leaves them staring down the barrel, with their initial trio of qualifying group games having produced only a single point. They need to defeat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to maintain any chance of claiming a qualifying place.

Key Incidents

• Kelleher seemed to have secured Ireland a point when he superbly kept out Ronaldo’s penalty with his trailing leg after a Portuguese player’s shot had hit an Irish defender’s hand.
• Neves saved Portugal in the first minute of stoppage time when he headed a delivery from the wing past Kelleher.

Additional Qualifying Outcomes

Portugal’s Group

The Hungarian team boosted their chances of qualifying by securing their initial victory with a two-goal triumph over the Armenian side, moving above their opponents into the runner-up spot behind Portugal in the standings. A Hungarian forward gave his team the advantage in the opening period and Zsombor Gruber secured the victory in second-half added time.

Group K

Serbia suffered a 1-0 loss at home to the Albanian squad, with the outcome meaning England can now seal their qualification from Group K by beating Latvia on Tuesday. Rey Manaj netted the decisive strike for his team with a well-taken volley in late added time.

Latvia struggles in their group continued as they were forced to a 2-2 draw at home by Andorra. An Andorran player found the net for the visitors 12 minutes from time to earn them their initial draw of the qualifiers and extend Latvia’s poor form to five games.

Group E

Spain maintained their impressive qualifying group run with a 2-0 win over Georgia after goals from a Spanish attacker and Mikel Oyarzabal in Elche. The result continued the title holders’ perfect record in qualifying, having notched 11 goals in three matches without conceding.

Despite the absence of players such as a talented winger, another forward, and Rodri due to fitness issues, the Spanish squad demonstrated their dominance against a Georgia team that spent the majority of the game defending deep. Spain controlled the match with over eighty percent possession, and the visitors did not have a single attempt on target or generate a clear chance, with only shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili preventing a rout.

Pino opened the scoring in the first half from a expertly taken set-piece move, and his compatriot wrapped up the victory in the second period with a stunning set-piece after the Georgian keeper had saved a Spanish player’s spot-kick.

Other Results

• The Turkish national team returned to winning ways with a 6-1 thrashing over Bulgaria to keep the pressure on the group leaders in Group E. Real Madrid’s Arda Güler was one of the goal-getters.
• Italy boosted their prospects of at least making the qualifying playoffs with a comfortable victory away to the Estonian team, thanks to goals from a forward, Mateo Retegui, and Francesco Pio Esposito.

The Italian coach commented: “We’re not thinking about the group leaders or our next opponents. We know our responsibilities.”

The Azzurri missed out for the previous two World Cups, on two occasions falling short in the qualifying rounds, and the feared backdoor route now looks their most likely chance after the Norwegian team’s 5-0 hammering over the Israeli side in their qualifying group. The Norwegians are top on 18 points from six games. The Italians have twelve points with a match less played on their competitors and are a trio of points clear of their next opponents. Estonia remain fourth on three points. The group winners advance automatically for the World Cup, with the second-placed sides entering the playoffs.

The Italian national team face their rivals on Tuesday, where a victory would secure second spot and, while they can still mathematically overtake the group leaders on the table, the leaders’ far superior goal difference means a playoff spot likely awaits for the Italian squad.