🔗 Share this article Late Strike from Neves Shocks the Irish Following Caoimhín Kelleher Denies Ronaldo Penalty Rúben Neves saved the day for the Portuguese side with a dramatic winner in their World Cup match against Ireland, after Caoimhín Kelleher had denied a penalty from the veteran forward. Game Summary Neves found the net during added time to claim a 1-0 triumph, four years after the star striker had scored twice late on to defeat a stubborn Ireland team. Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men looked set to leave Lisbon with a hard-fought point, but ultimately left empty-handed, despite regaining a good deal of honor with a battling performance that erased some of the recollections of last month’s disappointing loss in Armenia. However, the defeat leaves them in a difficult position, with their initial trio of Group F matches having yielded only a single draw. They must beat Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday to keep alive any hope of securing a playoff spot. Key Incidents The Liverpool keeper looked to have secured Ireland a point when he superbly saved Ronaldo’s penalty with his trailing leg after Francisco Trincão’s shot had struck Dara O’Shea’s hand. The match-winner saved Portugal in the first minute of stoppage time when he headed a delivery from the wing past the Irish goalkeeper. Other Qualifying Results Group F Hungary enhanced their chances of qualifying by securing their initial victory with a two-goal victory over Armenia, moving above their opponents into second place behind the group leaders in Group F. Daniel Lukacs gave Hungary the advantage in the opening period 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 outcome meaning the Three Lions can now seal their passage from Group K by beating Latvia on Tuesday. An Albanian striker scored the only goal for Albania with a neat shot in late added time. The Latvian side struggles in their group persisted as they were held to a two-all draw at home by the Andorran team. Ian Olivera scored for the visitors 12 minutes from time to earn them their first point of the qualifying campaign and extend Latvia’s poor form to several matches. Group E The Spanish national team continued their impressive qualifying group campaign with a 2-0 win over the Georgian side after goals from a Spanish attacker and Mikel Oyarzabal in Elche. The result extended the European champions’ flawless run in qualifying, 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 showcased their superiority against a Georgian team that spent most of the match sitting back. Spain controlled the encounter with over eighty percent possession, and Georgia did not have a single attempt on target or create a clear chance, with only goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili averting a rout. Pino broke the deadlock in the first half from a well-executed dead-ball move, and Oyarzabal secured the victory in the 64th minute with a stunning set-piece after Mamardashvili had denied Ferran Torres’s penalty. Additional Results Turkey returned to winning ways with a 6-1 thrashing over Bulgaria to keep the pressure on the group leaders in their section. The Spanish club’s a young talent was among the goal-getters. The Italian squad boosted their hopes of at least making the knockout stage with a 3-1 victory away to Estonia, thanks to strikes from a forward, Mateo Retegui, and a third scorer. Gennaro Gattuso said: “We’re not thinking about the group leaders or our next opponents. We know our responsibilities.” Italy failed to qualify for the last two global tournaments, on two occasions falling short in the qualifying rounds, and the dreaded playoff path now looks their primary opportunity after the Norwegian team’s comprehensive win over the Israeli side in Group I. The Norwegians are top on 18 points from six games. The Italians have 12 points with a game in hand on their rivals and are a trio of points ahead of Israel. The Estonian squad stay in fourth place on three points. The top teams advance automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up going into the qualifying stage. The Italian national team host Israel on Tuesday, where a victory would cement second spot and, while they can still theoretically overtake the group leaders on points, the leaders’ much better goal difference means a qualifying place probably awaits for Gennaro Gattuso’s side.