🔗 Share this article

Rúben Neves saved the day for Portugal with a last-gasp winning goal in their World Cup encounter against the Republic of Ireland, after Caoimhín Kelleher had saved a spot-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Game Summary

The Wolves midfielder found the net during added time to snatch a 1-0 triumph, four years after Ronaldo had bagged a brace at the death to defeat a stubborn Ireland team.

The Irish squad looked set to leave Lisbon with a hard-fought point, but ultimately suffered defeat, despite regaining a significant amount of pride with a battling performance that erased some of the memories of last month’s disappointing loss in Armenia.

Nevertheless, the defeat leaves them staring down the barrel, with their initial trio of qualifying group matches having produced only a solitary point. They need to defeat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to maintain any chance of securing a playoff spot.

Major Incidents

• The Liverpool keeper seemed to have secured Ireland a draw when he brilliantly saved Ronaldo’s spot-kick with his trailing leg after Francisco Trincão’s shot had hit an Irish defender’s arm.
• The match-winner saved Portugal in the first minute of added time when he headed Trincão’s cross past Kelleher.

Other Qualifying Outcomes

Group F

The Hungarian team enhanced their chances of advancing by securing their initial victory with a two-goal victory over the Armenian side, moving above their rivals into the runner-up spot behind the group leaders in Group F. Daniel Lukacs provided his team the advantage in the opening period and a teammate secured the victory in late stoppage time.

Group K

The Serbian national team suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Albania, with the outcome meaning the Three Lions can now seal their passage from their qualifying group by beating Latvia on Tuesday. Rey Manaj netted the only goal for Albania with a neat volley in late stoppage time.

The Latvian side struggles in Group K continued as they were forced to a two-all draw at home by Andorra. Ian Olivera scored for the visitors late on from time to claim them their first point of the qualifiers and prolong Latvia’s winless run to several matches.

Spain’s Group

The Spanish national team maintained their dominant qualifying group campaign with a comfortable victory over the Georgian side after goals from a Spanish attacker and Mikel Oyarzabal in the match venue. The win extended the European champions’ flawless run in the qualifiers, having scored 11 goals in three games without letting in a goal.

Despite the absence of players such as a talented winger, another forward, and the midfield anchor due to injuries, Luis de la Fuente’s side demonstrated their dominance against a Georgia team that spent most of the match defending deep. Spain controlled the encounter with more than 80% possession, and the visitors did not have a single attempt on target or create a scoring opportunity, with only shot-stopper their keeper preventing a rout.

The scorer broke the deadlock in the first half from a well-executed set-piece move, and Oyarzabal secured the win in the 64th minute with a stunning free kick after the Georgian keeper had denied a Spanish player’s penalty.

Additional Results

• The Turkish national team returned to winning ways with a comprehensive thrashing over Bulgaria to keep the pressure on the group leaders in Group E. Real Madrid’s Arda Güler was among the scorers.
• The Italian squad improved their prospects of at least reaching the qualifying playoffs with a comfortable victory away to the Estonian team, thanks to strikes from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and a third scorer.

Gennaro Gattuso said: “We’re not thinking about the group leaders or our next opponents. We know our responsibilities.”

The Azzurri missed out for the previous two global tournaments, on two occasions falling short in the qualifying rounds, and the feared playoff path now appears their most likely chance after Norway’s 5-0 win over the Israeli side in Group I. The Norwegians are leading on eighteen points from six games. Italy have 12 points with a game in hand on their competitors and are a trio of points clear of Israel. Estonia stay fourth on three points. The group winners advance automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up entering the playoffs.

The Italian national team host their rivals on Tuesday, where a victory would secure second spot and, while they can still mathematically catch Norway on points, the Norwegians’ far superior goal ratio means a playoff spot probably awaits for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.