🔗 Share this article

The Portuguese midfielder was the hero for Portugal with a last-gasp winning goal in their World Cup qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland, after Caoimhín Kelleher had kept out a penalty from the veteran forward.

Game Summary

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

The Irish squad appeared poised to leave Lisbon with a well-earned point, but ultimately left empty-handed, despite restoring a significant amount of honor with a gritty display that erased some of the recollections of last month’s disappointing defeat in Armenia.

However, the loss leaves them facing elimination, with their initial trio of qualifying group matches having yielded only a single draw. They must beat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to keep alive any hope of securing a playoff spot.

Key Moments

• The Liverpool keeper looked to have secured Ireland a point when he brilliantly saved Ronaldo’s penalty with his outstretched foot after a Portuguese player’s effort had struck an Irish defender’s hand.
• The match-winner came to his side’s rescue in the first minute of stoppage time when he headed Trincão’s cross past the Irish goalkeeper.

Additional Qualifying Outcomes

Portugal’s Group

The Hungarian team boosted their chances of advancing by picking up their first win with a two-goal victory over the Armenian side, moving above their opponents into the runner-up spot behind the group leaders in the standings. A Hungarian forward provided Hungary the advantage in the opening period and a teammate made sure of the victory in late stoppage time.

England’s Group

Serbia slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to the Albanian squad, with the result meaning the Three Lions can now secure their passage from Group K by defeating Latvia on Tuesday. An Albanian striker scored the decisive strike for Albania with a neat volley in first-half stoppage time.

The Latvian side difficulties in their group persisted as they were held to a two-all tie at home by the Andorran team. An Andorran player scored for the away side late on from time to claim them their initial draw of the qualifying campaign and extend Latvia’s poor form to five games.

Spain’s Group

The Spanish national team maintained their dominant qualifying group run with a 2-0 win over Georgia after strikes from a Spanish attacker and Mikel Oyarzabal in the match venue. The result continued the European champions’ flawless run in qualifying, having scored 11 goals in three games without conceding.

Despite the unavailability of key figures such as a talented winger, Nico Williams, and Rodri due to fitness issues, Luis de la Fuente’s side demonstrated their dominance against a Georgia team that passed most of the match defending deep. Spain controlled the encounter with over eighty percent of the ball, and Georgia did not have a single attempt on target or generate a scoring opportunity, with only goalkeeper their keeper preventing a rout.

Pino opened the scoring in the first half from a expertly taken dead-ball routine, and his compatriot secured the victory in the second period with a stunning free kick after the Georgian keeper had denied a Spanish player’s spot-kick.

Other Scores

• Turkey bounced back with a comprehensive thrashing over the Bulgarian side to stay close to Spain in their section. Real Madrid’s a young talent was one of the goal-getters.
• Italy boosted their prospects of at least reaching the knockout stage with a comfortable win away to the Estonian team, thanks to strikes from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and a third scorer.

The Italian coach said: “We’re not thinking about Norway or our next opponents. We are aware of what we have to do.”

The Azzurri missed out for the previous two global tournaments, on two occasions missing out in the playoffs, and the feared playoff path now appears their most likely chance after the Norwegian team’s comprehensive win over the Israeli side in their qualifying group. The Norwegians are leading on eighteen points from six matches. Italy have twelve points with a match less played on their competitors and are a trio of points clear of their next opponents. The Estonian squad remain in fourth place on three points. The top teams qualify directly for the tournament, with the second-placed sides going into the qualifying stage.

The Italian national team face Israel on Tuesday, where a victory would cement second spot and, while they can still theoretically overtake Norway on points, the Norwegians’ much better goal ratio means a qualifying place probably awaits for the Italian squad.