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Rúben Neves saved the day for the Portuguese side with a injury-time decisive strike in their World Cup match against Ireland, after Caoimhín Kelleher had denied a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Game Summary

The Wolves midfielder nodded in during added time to secure a slender win, four years after the star striker had scored twice at the death to overcome a stubborn Irish side.

The Irish squad appeared poised to leave Lisbon with a well-earned point, but ultimately suffered defeat, despite regaining a good deal of honor with a battling display that erased some of the recollections of last month’s disappointing loss in Armenia.

However, the defeat leaves them staring down the barrel, with their first three qualifying group games having yielded only a single point. They need to defeat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to keep alive any chance of securing a qualifying spot.

Key Incidents

• The Liverpool keeper seemed to have secured Ireland a draw when he brilliantly saved Ronaldo’s penalty with his trailing leg after a Portuguese player’s effort had hit Dara O’Shea’s hand.
• The match-winner came to his side’s rescue in the first minute of stoppage time when he directed Trincão’s cross past the Irish goalkeeper.

Other Qualifying Results

Portugal’s Group

Hungary boosted their hopes of advancing by securing their initial victory with a two-goal triumph over the Armenian side, moving above their opponents into second place behind the group leaders in the standings. A Hungarian forward gave 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 1-0 defeat at home to the Albanian squad, with the outcome meaning the Three Lions can now seal their passage from their qualifying group by defeating Latvia on Tuesday. Rey Manaj scored the decisive strike for Albania with a well-taken shot in late added time.

Latvia struggles in their group persisted as they were held to a two-all tie at home by Andorra. An Andorran player scored for the away side 12 minutes from time to claim them their first point of the qualifiers and prolong Latvia’s winless run to several matches.

Group E

The Spanish national team maintained their impressive qualifying group campaign with a 2-0 victory over the Georgian side after strikes from a Spanish attacker and his teammate in Elche. The win continued the title holders’ perfect record in qualifying, having notched 11 goals in three games without conceding.

Despite the absence of key figures such as a talented winger, Nico Williams, and the midfield anchor due to injuries, Luis de la Fuente’s side demonstrated their dominance against a Georgian team that spent most of the match sitting back. Spain controlled the match with over eighty percent possession, and Georgia did not have a single attempt on target or generate a clear chance, with only goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili averting a rout.

The scorer broke the deadlock in the 24th minute from a well-executed set-piece move, and Oyarzabal secured the victory in the second period with a spectacular set-piece after Mamardashvili had denied Ferran Torres’s penalty.

Additional Scores

• Turkey returned to winning ways with a comprehensive thrashing over the Bulgarian side to keep the pressure on Spain in Group E. Real Madrid’s a young talent was among the goal-getters.
• The Italian squad improved their prospects of at least reaching the qualifying playoffs with a 3-1 victory away to Estonia, thanks to goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and Francesco Pio Esposito.

The Italian coach said: “We’re not thinking about the group leaders or Israel. We know what we have to do.”

The Azzurri failed to qualify for the last two global tournaments, on two occasions missing out in the qualifying rounds, and the feared backdoor route now appears their most likely opportunity after the Norwegian team’s comprehensive win over Israel in their qualifying group. The Norwegians are leading on eighteen points from six games. Italy have twelve points with a match less played on their rivals and are three points clear of their next opponents. Estonia remain in fourth place on three points. The top teams advance automatically for the World Cup, with the second-placed sides entering the qualifying stage.

The Italian national team face Israel on Tuesday, where a victory would secure the runner-up position and, while they can still mathematically overtake Norway on points, the leaders’ much better goal difference means a playoff spot likely beckons for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.