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Rúben Neves saved the day for Portugal with a dramatic decisive strike in their World Cup match against Ireland, after Caoimhín Kelleher had saved a penalty from the veteran forward.

Game Overview

The Wolves midfielder nodded in during added time to claim a narrow win, four years after the star striker had bagged a brace late on to overcome a stubborn Ireland team.

The Irish squad looked set to leave Lisbon with a hard-fought draw, but ultimately left empty-handed, despite regaining a significant amount of honor with a battling display that overshadowed some of the recollections of last month’s disappointing loss in Armenia.

Nevertheless, the loss puts them staring down the barrel, with their initial trio of qualifying group matches having yielded only a solitary draw. They must defeat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to maintain any hope of securing a playoff place.

Key Incidents

• Kelleher seemed to have secured Ireland a point when he brilliantly saved Ronaldo’s spot-kick with his outstretched foot after a Portuguese player’s effort had struck an Irish defender’s arm.
• The match-winner saved Portugal in the opening moments of added time when he directed a delivery from the wing past the Irish goalkeeper.

Other Group Results

Portugal’s Group

The Hungarian team boosted their chances of qualifying by securing their first win with a 2-0 triumph over the Armenian side, climbing above their rivals into the runner-up spot behind Portugal in the standings. A Hungarian forward provided Hungary the advantage in the first half and Zsombor Gruber secured the victory in late added time.

Group K

Serbia slipped to a narrow defeat at home to Albania, with the outcome meaning England can now secure their qualification from their qualifying group by defeating Latvia on Tuesday. Rey Manaj netted the decisive strike for Albania with a well-taken shot in late stoppage time.

Latvia difficulties in their group continued as they were held to a two-all tie at home by the Andorran team. Ian Olivera found the net 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.

Spain’s Group

Spain continued their dominant qualifying group run with a comfortable win over the Georgian side after goals from a Spanish attacker and his teammate in the match venue. The result extended the European champions’ perfect record in the qualifiers, 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 fitness issues, the Spanish squad showcased their dominance against a Georgia team that passed most of the match sitting back. Spain dominated the encounter with more than 80% possession, and the visitors did not have a single attempt on target or generate a clear chance, with only shot-stopper their keeper preventing a rout.

The scorer opened the scoring in the 24th minute from a well-executed dead-ball routine, and Oyarzabal secured the win in the second period with a spectacular set-piece after Mamardashvili had saved a Spanish player’s penalty.

Other Results

• Turkey bounced back with a comprehensive thrashing over the Bulgarian side to keep the pressure on Spain in their section. The Spanish club’s a young talent was one of the goal-getters.
• The Italian squad boosted their hopes of at least reaching the qualifying playoffs with a comfortable win away to the Estonian team, thanks to strikes from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and Francesco Pio Esposito.

Gennaro Gattuso commented: “We’re not thinking about the group leaders or our next opponents. We know what we have to do.”

The Azzurri failed to qualify for the previous two global tournaments, twice falling short in the qualifying rounds, and the feared backdoor route now appears their primary opportunity after Norway’s comprehensive hammering over the Israeli side in Group I. The Norwegians are top on eighteen points from six matches. Italy have twelve points with a game in hand on their rivals and are three points ahead of their next opponents. The Estonian squad remain fourth on three points. The group winners advance automatically for the tournament, with the second-placed sides entering the qualifying stage.

The Italian national team host their rivals on Tuesday, where a win would secure the runner-up position and, while they can still theoretically catch the group leaders on points, the Norwegians’ much better goal difference means a playoff spot probably beckons for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.