Ireland are considerable underdogs against a Portugal side who are ranked fifth in the world, 56 places above the Boys in Green.
Last month’s loss to Armenia was a massive dent in the team’s hopes of qualification, but reaching next summer’s tournament remains a possibility.
Ireland have caused the Portuguese problems before.
Under Stephen Kenny, they drew 0-0 at home in a World Cup qualifier in 2021 and came close to beating them in the reverse fixture before two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals turned the game around.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men are already trailing the Portuguese by five points and Hungary by three (with a game in hand), so they need to start picking up points soon to have any hope of progressing.
11 Oct
7:20PM
Confirmation of the teams below…
STARTING XI | Portugal v Ireland
Seamus Coleman, Jayson Molumby and Festy Ebosele all come into the starting line-up as Ireland take on Portugal at the Estádio José Alvalade 🇮🇪
A view of a memorial in the 21st minute for Diogo Jota. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
11 Oct
8:31PM
44 mins: Fernandes’ pot shot goes straight into the arms of Kelleher.
Portugal have had 57% possession, but they’ve struggled to break their opponents down.
11 Oct
8:33PM
45 mins: Neto outpaces O’Shea down the right.
The cross goes in, Molumby’s attempted clearance goes straight to Silva, but Collins gets a great block in on the Man City star’s goalbound shot to avert the danger.
So half-time and it’s been encouraging from an Irish perspective.
Ireland have had a couple of scares, notably Ronaldo hitting the post and Silva missing a sitter from the rebound.
But generally, Ireland have been well organised and not under serious pressure defensively.
The only frustration is that the visitors have given the ball away too cheaply, and they haven’t made the most of chances on the rare occasions they have found themselves in promising attacking positions.
Ireland had just one attempt on goal in that first half — Molumby’s skied shot.
But Portugal have only hit the target with two of their 13 efforts.
The hosts also had 63.8% possession.
11 Oct
8:49PM
The second half has begun…
11 Oct
8:50PM
Portugal have made a change.
Gonçalo Inácio, who seemed to pick up a knock in that first half, is replaced by Renato Veiga.
11 Oct
8:52PM
47 mins: Fernandes’ goal-bound shot is blocked by Collins.
There’s another goalmouth scramble moments later, but Ireland eventually clear their lines.
Some pride is restored after that performance, following the demoralising loss in Armenia, though it ends in a familiar feeling of disappointment.
Collins, O’Brien, Kelleher and O’Shea were among the standouts for the Irish team that were unlucky to come away with nothing.
Portugal, one of the best sides in the world, had to dig really deep to emerge with three points.
Ireland have only three games remaining now and they need to win at least two of them to have any hope of qualifying, starting with Armenia on Tuesday.
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As it happened: Portugal v Ireland, World Cup qualifier
Portugal 1-0 Ireland
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
Ireland are considerable underdogs against a Portugal side who are ranked fifth in the world, 56 places above the Boys in Green.
Last month’s loss to Armenia was a massive dent in the team’s hopes of qualification, but reaching next summer’s tournament remains a possibility.
Ireland have caused the Portuguese problems before.
Under Stephen Kenny, they drew 0-0 at home in a World Cup qualifier in 2021 and came close to beating them in the reverse fixture before two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals turned the game around.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men are already trailing the Portuguese by five points and Hungary by three (with a game in hand), so they need to start picking up points soon to have any hope of progressing.
Confirmation of the teams below…
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
2 mins: Portugal win a corner.
Looks like Ireland are playing a 5-4-1 formation with Ogbene and Ebosele on the wings.
4 mins: Coleman heads out a hanging cross for a corner.
Portugal start on the front foot as expected.
Ireland need to keep the ball better as the latest attack emanated from a Dara O’Shea misplaced pass.
7 mins: Neto’s cross finds Nuno Mendes.
The PSG star’s volley deflects off the head of O’Brien and goes harmlessly away from goal.
12 mins: Portugal are dominating possession.
But the hosts haven’t unduly troubled Ireland in these early stages.
14 mins: Ebosele gets the ball on the right.
However, his deep cross is easily gathered by Diogo Costa.
17 mins: Big chance!
Ronaldo’s shot from the edge of the area hits off the post.
The rebound falls to Bernardo Silva, who scuffs it wide.
18 mins: Ebosele gets the game’s first booking.
He is penalised for a late challenge on Nuno Mendes.
25 mins: Nicely worked move by Ireland.
A couple of passes culminate with Molumby firing over the bar from the edge of the area.
30 mins: Not too much of note has happened in recent minutes.
As I type, O’Shea does well to head away a Neves cross into the area, with Ronaldo nearby.
31 mins: Coleman plays an impressive long ball towards Ogbene.
Dalot does really well to get a vital touch that stops it reaching the Sheffield United player.
36 mins: Ireland have been impressive so far without the ball.
The one disappointment is that they’ve been quite wasteful in possession at times.
39 mins: Vitinha’s shot from the edge of the area deflects off O’Brien and lands on the roof of the net.
Shortly thereafter, Fernandes goes down in the area with O’Brien in proximity, but the ref waves away the penalty claims.
Then, Fernandes’ corner is flicked on by Inácio, forcing a good save by Kelleher.
44 mins: Fernandes’ pot shot goes straight into the arms of Kelleher.
Portugal have had 57% possession, but they’ve struggled to break their opponents down.
45 mins: Neto outpaces O’Shea down the right.
The cross goes in, Molumby’s attempted clearance goes straight to Silva, but Collins gets a great block in on the Man City star’s goalbound shot to avert the danger.
HALF-TIME: PORTUGAL 0-0 IRELAND
So half-time and it’s been encouraging from an Irish perspective.
Ireland have had a couple of scares, notably Ronaldo hitting the post and Silva missing a sitter from the rebound.
But generally, Ireland have been well organised and not under serious pressure defensively.
The only frustration is that the visitors have given the ball away too cheaply, and they haven’t made the most of chances on the rare occasions they have found themselves in promising attacking positions.
Ireland had just one attempt on goal in that first half — Molumby’s skied shot.
But Portugal have only hit the target with two of their 13 efforts.
The hosts also had 63.8% possession.
The second half has begun…
Portugal have made a change.
Gonçalo Inácio, who seemed to pick up a knock in that first half, is replaced by Renato Veiga.
47 mins: Fernandes’ goal-bound shot is blocked by Collins.
There’s another goalmouth scramble moments later, but Ireland eventually clear their lines.
50 mins: Dalot puts in a dangerous cross.
Collins doesn’t get to the ball, but does enough to ensure Ronaldo doesn’t get a clean header on goal.
52 mins: Ronaldo gets excited.
The former Man United star gets the ball at least 30 yards out, and his low shot drifts harmlessly wide.
53 mins: Ronaldo is closer this time.
After receiving the ball on the edge of the area from Fernandes, he takes a touch before firing inches wide.
59 mins: Neves charges forward into space with a couple of Irish bodies forward.
His shot takes a slight deflection, and Kelleher gets down well to make the save.
Moments later, the Brentford star has an easier save to make to keep out Vitinha’s strike from distance.
61 mins: Portugal make a triple change.
Neto, Vitinha and Dalot go off.
Semedo, Trincão, and Rafael Leão come on.
64 mins: Now Ireland make a change.
Ebosele is replaced by Mikey Johnston.
The İstanbul Başakşehir player had some good moments in the first half, but was starting to tire.
68 mins: Fernandes gets booked for a late challenge on Molumby.
The West Brom man has certainly justified his starting place with a dogged performance.
69 mins: According to Uefa’s stats, Portugal have made 476 passes to Ireland’s 206.
The visitors continue to keep Roberto Martinez’s men at bay, however.
71 mins: Semedo’s low cross finds Ronaldo, but it’s slightly behind the 40-year-old, who can’t steer his first-time effort on target.
Meanwhile, Kelleher has been booked for time-wasting.
PENALTY TO PORTUGAL!
Trincão’s shot comes off Dara O’Shea, and the ref points to the spot.
Judging by replays, it appeared to hit his chest, but it doesn’t look like it will be overturned.
PENALTY SAVED!
Ronaldo tries to go down the middle, but it comes off Kelleher’s legs.
It feels like justice has been done, as that spot kick award was very harsh.
77 mins: Ireland make a double change.
Smallbone and Parrott replace Ogbene and Ferguson.
Here’s a look at the penalty save…
81 mins: Coleman does well to stop Leão getting to the ball and shepherd it out of play.
The 37-year-old has done well to last this long, particularly given his lack of game time at club level.
86 mins: Ireland make another change.
John Egan replaces Seamus Coleman.
Presumably, that means O’Brien will move to right back.
Portugal also make a change, with Goncalo Ramos replacing Bruno Fernandes.
87 mins: Josh Cullen is the latest Irish player to pick up a booking for a cynical foul.
That means he’ll be suspended for Tuesday’s game with Armenia.
Here’s a look at another decent save by Kelleher earlier…
90 mins: Portugal have had 27 shots on goal with five on target.
Ireland have still only had one.
PORTUGAL 1-0 IRELAND (NEVES 90)
Neves heads home from Trincão’s cross to break Irish hearts.
That’s a disappointing goal from an Irish perspective, as he was unmarked in the area.
As I type, Rafael Leão fires narrowly wide as Portugal counter with Irish bodies forward.
Here’s a look at Portugal’s goal…
FULL-TIME: PORTUGAL 1-0 IRELAND
So that’s that.
Some pride is restored after that performance, following the demoralising loss in Armenia, though it ends in a familiar feeling of disappointment.
Collins, O’Brien, Kelleher and O’Shea were among the standouts for the Irish team that were unlucky to come away with nothing.
Portugal, one of the best sides in the world, had to dig really deep to emerge with three points.
Ireland have only three games remaining now and they need to win at least two of them to have any hope of qualifying, starting with Armenia on Tuesday.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction on the site shortly.
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