POR 1-0 IRL Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Neves’ late header gives Portugal win over Ireland

Portugal wins the match and continues its 100 percent record. 

Ruben Neves scores his first goal for his country and pays a heartfelt tribute to his great friend Diogo Jota. He shows his tattoo of Jota and him of his calf to commemorate the occasion. 

Ireland is launching attacks in a bid to get a point from this match. 

Ruben Neves breaks Irish hearts with a brave header. Trincao with a brilliant cross that draws Kelleher. 

Seven minutes added on after the end of regulation time. 

It is 0-0 after the end of regulation 90 minutes in Lisbon. 

Portugal substitution: Goncalo Ramos comes in for Fernandes.

Ireland has shown a tremendous rear-guard action so far in Lisbon. This can prove to be an important point for the Irish team before its vital match against Hungary. 

Portugal has only 10 minutes of regulation time to find a goal. Meanwhile, Ireland is holding firm to get a crucial point home. 

Portugal is still searching for the goal. 

Ronaldo fails to slot it past Caoimhin Kelleher. 

Heroic bit of goalkeeping from the Brentford custodian to deny the Portuguese skipper. 

Dara O’Shea throws himself to block Trincao’s shot inside the box and the referee points to the spot. 

A routine VAR check is going on. The penalty stands. 

Ronaldo’s effort is off target yet again. 

Bruno Fernandes becomes the first Portuguese player to get booked for a lunging challenge. 

It seems like a moment of magic or a mistake is required for Portugal to break the deadlock. 

Portugal substitutions: Trincao, Leao and Semedo comes in. 

Kelleher denies Neves with a brilliant save. Nuno Mendes starts the move by dribbling past two players. 

Another save by the Irish goalie, this time from Vitinha. 

The crowd is getting impatient and it is frustrating the Portuguese players. 

Ronaldo fails to hit the target from inside the box. It may turn out to be a crucial miss by the Portuguese skipper. 

Ronaldo’s long range grounder goes just wide. 

Ireland is showing more attacking ambitions early in the second half. 

Portugal has started the second half with attacking intensity. It needs to break down the stubborn Irish defence. 

The second half between Portugal and Ireland starts. 

Republic of Ireland’s defensive resolve has denied Portugal any joy in the first half. The home side had all the possession but it couldn’t translate it into a tangible lead. 

One minute added on after the end of first 45. 

Portugal earns yet another corner. 

Kelleher makes a great save from corner to deny Inacio’s glancing header from the near post. 

Vitinha’s shot from range takes a wicked deflection and fortunately for the Irish goalie goes over the bar for another corner. 

The host side has earned yet another corner. 

Since the first minute, Ireland players have shown immense concentration in defence but they need to attack to keep the defenders some relief at times.

The Irish defence is causing frustration for the Portugal team with its low block. 

Portugal is ramping up the pressure on the Irish goal.

Ireland is seeing more of the ball in Portugal’s half. The visiting side is looking to make the Portuguese goalie to work. 

The crowd in Lisbon remembers Diego Jota as the clock turns 20. This is the first home game for Portugal after the untimely death of the forward. 

Festy Ebosele gets the first yellow card of the match for a feisty tackle on Nuno Mendes. 

Ronaldo hits the woodwork from range and Bernado Silva puts it wide on the rebound. 

Ireland gets a set piece in Portugal’s half for the first time in the match. 

Portugal is searching for the first goal. Pedro Neto is troubling the Ireland defender with his nimble footwork. 

Ireland is trying to grow into the game after a slow start. 

Portugal left-back Nuno Mendes is seeing a lot of the ball. The PSG man is going forward at will and threatening the Ireland defence. 

Ireland is in the bottom of Group F and is looking to get a glimmer of hope from this match. 

The Selecao are putting pressure on the Ireland goal. Another set piece for Portugal. 

Portugal gets an early set piece. 

Portugal is on the brink of qualification. Cristiano Ronaldo’s team is spotting its traditional red jersey. 

The Portugal vs Ireland match is under way. 

Players are on the pitch and ready to rumble. 

Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for the Portugal vs Ireland match tonight after continuing to feature in the training sessions with the rest of the Portuguese national team. The 40-year-old is likely to start for Portugal and will look to be part of helping the team reach another World Cup.

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers between Portugal and Ireland, which is being played in Lisbon on Saturday.