🔗 Share this article

Rúben Neves came to the rescue for Portugal with a last-gasp decisive strike in their World Cup qualifying encounter against the Republic of Ireland, following the Irish goalkeeper had denied a penalty from the veteran forward.

Game Overview

The Wolves midfielder headed home during stoppage time to secure a slender win, four years after Ronaldo had scored twice late on to overcome a stubborn Irish side.

The Irish squad looked set to leave Lisbon with a hard-fought draw, but ultimately suffered defeat, despite regaining a significant amount of honor with a gritty performance that erased some of the recollections of last month’s embarrassing defeat in Armenia.

However, the defeat puts them staring down the barrel, with their first three Group F games having yielded only a single draw. They must beat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to keep alive any chance of claiming a playoff place.

Major Incidents

• Kelleher seemed to have earned Ireland a point when he brilliantly saved Ronaldo’s spot-kick with his outstretched foot after a Portuguese player’s shot had hit an Irish defender’s arm.
• The match-winner saved Portugal in the first minute of stoppage time when he headed Trincão’s cross past Kelleher.

Additional Qualifying Outcomes

Portugal’s Group

Hungary enhanced their chances of advancing by securing their initial victory with a 2-0 triumph over Armenia, moving above their rivals into the runner-up spot behind Portugal in Group F. A Hungarian forward provided his team the advantage in the opening period and Zsombor Gruber made sure of the victory in second-half stoppage time.

Group K

Serbia suffered a narrow defeat at home to the Albanian squad, with the outcome meaning England can now secure their qualification from their qualifying group by defeating Latvia on Tuesday. An Albanian striker scored the decisive strike for Albania with a well-taken shot in first-half added time.

The Latvian side struggles in their group persisted as they were forced to a 2-2 tie at home by the Andorran team. An Andorran player scored for the away side late on from time to earn them their first point of the qualifying campaign and prolong Latvia’s poor form to several matches.

Group E

The Spanish national team continued their impressive qualifying group run with a comfortable victory over the Georgian side after goals from Jéremy Pino and his teammate in Elche. The result extended the European champions’ flawless record in qualifying, having scored eleven strikes in three games without letting in a goal.

Despite the unavailability of key figures such as a talented winger, another forward, and the midfield anchor due to injuries, the Spanish squad demonstrated their dominance against a Georgia team that passed most of the match defending deep. The home side controlled the encounter with over eighty percent possession, and the visitors did not have a single attempt on target or generate a clear chance, with only goalkeeper their keeper averting a rout.

The scorer broke the deadlock in the 24th minute from a expertly taken dead-ball routine, and his compatriot wrapped up the win in the second period with a stunning free kick after the Georgian keeper had saved a Spanish player’s penalty.

Additional Results

• The Turkish national team returned to winning ways with a comprehensive thrashing over the Bulgarian side to stay close to Spain in their section. The Spanish club’s a young talent was one of the scorers.
• Italy improved their hopes of at least making the knockout stage with a comfortable win away to Estonia, thanks to goals from a forward, Mateo Retegui, and a third scorer.

Gennaro Gattuso said: “We’re not thinking about the group leaders or Israel. We are aware of what we have to do.”

The Azzurri missed out for the last two global tournaments, twice falling short in the qualifying rounds, and the dreaded playoff path now looks their primary opportunity after Norway’s comprehensive win over Israel in Group I. Norway are leading on 18 points from six matches. Italy have 12 points with a match less played on their rivals and are three points ahead of their next opponents. Estonia stay fourth on three points. The top teams qualify directly for the tournament, with the second-placed sides going into the playoffs.

The Italian national team face their rivals on Tuesday, where a victory would cement second spot and, while they can still mathematically overtake Norway on points, the leaders’ much better goal difference means a playoff spot likely beckons for the Italian squad.