🔗 Share this article

The Portuguese midfielder was the hero for Portugal with a injury-time winner in their World Cup qualifying clash against the Republic of Ireland, after Caoimhín Kelleher had denied a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Game Overview

Neves nodded in during added time to claim a narrow triumph, four years after the star striker had scored twice late on to overcome a stubborn Ireland team.

The Irish squad appeared poised to leave Lisbon with a hard-fought point, but ultimately suffered defeat, despite restoring a good deal of pride with a gritty performance that erased some of the recollections of last month’s embarrassing defeat in Armenia.

Nevertheless, the defeat puts them facing elimination, with their first three Group F games having produced only a solitary draw. They need to defeat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to maintain any hope of securing 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 Dara O’Shea’s hand.
• Neves came to his side’s rescue in the first minute of added time when he headed a delivery from the wing past Kelleher.

Other Qualifying Results

Portugal’s Group

The Hungarian team boosted their chances of qualifying by picking up their initial victory with a 2-0 victory over the Armenian side, climbing above their rivals into the runner-up spot behind the group leaders in Group F. A Hungarian forward provided Hungary the advantage in the first half and a teammate made sure of the points in second-half added time.

Group K

Serbia slipped to a narrow loss 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. An Albanian striker netted the decisive strike for Albania with a well-taken volley in first-half stoppage time.

Latvia difficulties in their group continued as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Andorra. Ian Olivera found the net for the away side 12 minutes from time to earn them their initial draw of the qualifying campaign and prolong Latvia’s poor form to five games.

Spain’s Group

The Spanish national team continued their dominant qualifying group campaign with a comfortable win over Georgia after goals from Jéremy Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal in Elche. The result extended the title holders’ flawless record in qualifying, having notched eleven strikes in three games without conceding.

Despite the unavailability of key figures such as a talented winger, another forward, and Rodri due to injuries, the Spanish squad demonstrated their superiority against a Georgia team that passed the majority of the game sitting back. Spain controlled the match with over eighty percent of the ball, and the visitors did not have a single attempt on target or generate a clear chance, with only shot-stopper their keeper averting a rout.

The scorer opened the scoring in the 24th minute from a expertly taken dead-ball move, and Oyarzabal wrapped up the win in the second period with a spectacular free kick after the Georgian keeper had denied a Spanish player’s penalty.

Other Scores

• Turkey bounced back with a comprehensive victory over Bulgaria to stay close to the group leaders in Group E. Real Madrid’s a young talent was among the scorers.
• Italy boosted their prospects of at least reaching the qualifying playoffs with a 3-1 victory away to the Estonian team, thanks to strikes from a forward, another attacker, and Francesco Pio Esposito.

Gennaro Gattuso said: “Our focus isn’t on Norway or our next opponents. We know our responsibilities.”

Italy missed out for the last two global tournaments, twice missing out in the qualifying rounds, and the feared backdoor route now looks their primary chance after Norway’s comprehensive hammering over Israel in their qualifying group. The Norwegians are leading on eighteen points from six matches. The Italians have 12 points with a game in hand on their competitors and are three points clear of their next opponents. The Estonian squad remain in fourth place on three points. The top teams advance automatically for the World Cup, with the second-placed sides going into the qualifying stage.

Italy face their rivals on Tuesday, where a victory would cement the runner-up position and, while they can still mathematically catch Norway on the table, the Norwegians’ far superior goal difference means a playoff spot likely beckons for the Italian squad.