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Rúben Neves was the hero for the Portuguese side with a last-gasp winner in their World Cup encounter against Ireland, following the Irish goalkeeper had denied a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Game Summary

Neves found the net during added time to secure a 1-0 triumph, several seasons after the star striker had bagged a brace late on to defeat a stubborn Irish side.

The Irish squad appeared poised to depart the Portuguese capital with a hard-fought point, but ultimately left empty-handed, despite regaining a good deal of honor with a battling display that overshadowed some of the memories of last month’s embarrassing defeat in Armenia.

However, the defeat puts them facing elimination, with their first three qualifying group matches having produced only a single draw. They need to defeat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to maintain any chance of claiming a qualifying spot.

Key Moments

• Kelleher seemed to have earned Ireland a point when he superbly kept out Ronaldo’s penalty with his outstretched foot after a Portuguese player’s effort had hit an Irish defender’s hand.
• The match-winner came to his side’s rescue in the first minute of stoppage time when he headed a delivery from the wing past Kelleher.

Other Qualifying Results

Portugal’s Group

The Hungarian team boosted their hopes of qualifying by securing their first win with a 2-0 triumph over Armenia, climbing above their rivals into the runner-up spot behind Portugal in the standings. A Hungarian forward provided his team the lead in the opening period and Zsombor Gruber made sure of the victory in second-half stoppage time.

England’s Group

Serbia slipped to a 1-0 loss at home to Albania, with the result meaning the Three Lions can now seal their passage from Group K by defeating Latvia on Tuesday. An Albanian striker scored the decisive strike for his team with a neat shot in first-half added time.

The Latvian side difficulties in their group persisted as they were forced to a 2-2 draw at home by Andorra. An Andorran player found the net for the away side late on from time to earn them their first point of the qualifying campaign and extend Latvia’s winless run to five games.

Group E

Spain maintained their dominant qualifying group campaign with a comfortable win over the Georgian side after goals from a Spanish attacker and Mikel Oyarzabal in Elche. The result extended the title holders’ flawless run in qualifying, having notched eleven strikes in three matches without conceding.

Despite the unavailability of players such as a talented winger, another forward, and the midfield anchor due to injuries, Luis de la Fuente’s side demonstrated their superiority against a Georgia team that spent most of the match sitting back. Spain dominated the encounter with over eighty percent possession, and Georgia did not have a single attempt on target or generate a scoring opportunity, with only goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili averting a rout.

Pino opened the scoring in the 24th minute from a well-executed set-piece move, and his compatriot wrapped up the victory in the second period with a spectacular free kick after Mamardashvili had denied Ferran Torres’s spot-kick.

Other Results

• The Turkish national team returned to winning ways with a 6-1 victory over Bulgaria to stay close to Spain in their section. The Spanish club’s a young talent was among the scorers.
• Italy improved their prospects of at least reaching the knockout stage with a 3-1 win away to Estonia, thanks to strikes from a forward, another attacker, and Francesco Pio Esposito.

Gennaro Gattuso commented: “Our focus isn’t on the group leaders or Israel. We know our responsibilities.”

The Azzurri missed out for the previous two World Cups, twice missing out in the playoffs, and the feared backdoor route now appears their most likely opportunity after the Norwegian team’s 5-0 hammering over the Israeli side in their qualifying group. Norway are leading on eighteen points from six matches. The Italians have twelve points with a game in hand on their competitors and are three points ahead of their next opponents. Estonia remain fourth on three points. The top teams advance automatically for the tournament, with the runners-up entering the playoffs.

Italy host their rivals on Tuesday, where a win would secure the runner-up position and, while they can still theoretically overtake Norway on points, the Norwegians’ far superior goal difference means a qualifying place likely beckons for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.