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ruben is famous get portugal Out of jail with the World Cup qualifying winner in injury time against the Republic ireland after Cristiano Ronaldo saw him save his penalty Kielher Kielher,
As they did in 2021, the Portuguese left it late, with Neves heading home in the first minute of stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win, four years after Ronaldo had scored twice in the death overs to defeat a stubborn Ireland.
It looked like Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side would leave Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade Stadium with a tough fight, but they ultimately went away empty-handed, although they got their due with a fighting display that erased some of the memories of last month’s embarrassing defeat in Armenia.
However, the defeat leaves them disappointed, with only one point from the first three matches of Group F.
They must beat the Armenians in Dublin on Tuesday evening if they are to have any hope of making the play-offs, with key midfielder Josh Cullen suspended.
Hallgrimsson took a safety-first approach after seeing his team lose twice in each of the first two qualifiers, setting up in a 5-4-1 formation designed for frustration.
Nuno Mendes headed Neves’ cross powerfully across Kelleher’s goal in the seventh minute and Bruno Fernandes fired a right-footed shot wide of the goalkeeper’s left post two minutes later to keep the pressure on.
However, the keeper needed the help of a post when Ronaldo created enough space for himself to fire a snapshot, which went past Kelleher and came back off the woodwork with such speed that Bernardo Silva could not steer the rebound into the empty net.
There was applause throughout the stadium for the memory of Diogo Jota as the game entered the 21st minute. As Ireland began to ease themselves on the pitch, Festi Abocele’s power saw him head home another cross past Mendes and Jason Molumbi cleared the crossbar with a strike from distance.
Kelleher was sent back-pedaling by Vitinha’s 38th-minute shot after colliding with defender Jake O’Brien and then had to stop Goncalo Inácio’s flick from a Fernandes corner before fielding the Manchester United midfielder’s speculative drive to keep his clean sheet at the half-time whistle.
Ronaldo attempted to take matters into his own hands with two efforts in quick succession after the restart, but had both sent off, while Vitinha was also fouled when given a half-chance.
Anxiety was growing in the Portugal camp and Ronaldo held the ball up for Kelleher and then clapped sarcastically in an attempt to encourage him to take the goal-kick more quickly.
The Ireland keeper made a good save from Neves as he was allowed to run through his own half as the hour approached and then saved Vitinha’s effort after Fernandes had parried Silva’s pull-back.
Ronaldo headed in substitute Nelson Semedo’s 71st-minute cross and his pain was compounded with 15 minutes remaining when Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak awarded a penalty after Francisco Trincao’s shot hit Darra O’Shea’s arm and Kelleher made a brilliant save with his trailing foot.
But Navas came to his team’s rescue in the first minute of stoppage time when he headed Trincao’s cross past Kelleher to seal the victory.