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Rúben Neves came to the rescue for Portugal with a injury-time decisive strike in their World Cup match against Ireland, following Caoimhín Kelleher had kept out a penalty from the veteran forward.

Game Summary

The Wolves midfielder nodded in during injury time to secure a narrow win, four years after the star striker had scored twice late on to overcome a stubborn Irish side.

The Irish squad looked set to leave Lisbon with a hard-fought point, but in the end left empty-handed, despite restoring a significant amount of honor with a battling display that erased some of the memories of last month’s embarrassing defeat in Armenia.

However, the loss puts them in a difficult position, with their initial trio of qualifying group games having produced only a solitary point. They need to beat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to maintain any chance of securing a qualifying spot.

Key Moments

• Kelleher seemed to have earned Ireland a point when he brilliantly saved Ronaldo’s penalty with his outstretched foot after a Portuguese player’s effort had hit an Irish defender’s arm.
• Neves came to his side’s rescue in the opening moments of stoppage time when he directed Trincão’s cross past the Irish goalkeeper.

Additional Group Results

Group F

Hungary boosted their hopes of qualifying by securing their first win with a two-goal victory over the Armenian side, climbing above their rivals into the runner-up spot behind the group leaders in Group F. Daniel Lukacs gave his team the lead in the first half and a teammate made sure of the victory in late added time.

Group K

Serbia slipped to a 1-0 loss at home to Albania, with the result meaning England can now secure their passage from their qualifying group by beating Latvia on Tuesday. Rey Manaj scored the decisive strike for his team with a neat shot in late stoppage time.

Latvia difficulties in their group persisted as they were held to a 2-2 tie at home by the Andorran team. An Andorran player scored for the visitors late on 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 impressive Group E run with a 2-0 win over the Georgian side after strikes from a Spanish attacker and Mikel Oyarzabal in the match venue. The win extended the title holders’ flawless run in the qualifiers, having scored 11 goals in three games without letting in a goal.

In spite of the absence of key figures such as a talented winger, another forward, and Rodri due to injuries, the Spanish squad demonstrated their dominance against a Georgia team that passed the majority of the game defending deep. Spain controlled the encounter with over eighty percent of the ball, and Georgia did not have one shot on target or create a scoring opportunity, with only goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili averting a heavy defeat.

Pino broke the deadlock in the first half from a well-executed dead-ball move, and Oyarzabal secured the victory in the second period with a stunning free kick after Mamardashvili had denied Ferran Torres’s penalty.

Other Scores

• The Turkish national team bounced back with a 6-1 victory over Bulgaria to keep the pressure on the group leaders in their section. The Spanish club’s Arda Güler was one of the goal-getters.
• The Italian squad boosted their hopes of at least reaching the qualifying playoffs with a 3-1 victory away to Estonia, thanks to goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and a third scorer.

The Italian coach commented: “Our focus isn’t on Norway or Israel. We know our responsibilities.”

Italy missed out for the last two global tournaments, twice missing out in the qualifying rounds, and the feared playoff path now looks their most likely chance after the Norwegian team’s comprehensive win over Israel in Group I. Norway are top on eighteen points from six matches. Italy have twelve points with a game in hand on their competitors and are three points ahead of their next opponents. The Estonian squad stay fourth on three points. The top teams advance automatically for the tournament, with the runners-up going into the playoffs.

The Italian national team face Israel on Tuesday, where a win would secure second spot and, while they can still mathematically catch the group leaders on points, the leaders’ much better goal ratio means a qualifying place probably awaits for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.