The Republic of Ireland were denied a precious point in their World Cup qualification campaign in Lisbon, as a 91st-minute header from Rúben Neves sealed all three points for the home side, despite an excellent defensive display from the Boys in Green.

It had looked as though a point had been secured after an outstanding save from Caoimhín Kelleher to deny Cristiano Ronaldo from the penalty spot, but Ireland’s defence was finally breached in added time when Neves powered home a bullet header.

Heimir Hallgrímsson made three changes from the side that lost to Armenia in Yerevan, with Coleman, Molumby, and Ebosele coming in for Taylor, Knight, and Azaz ahead of the clash at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.

Ireland's first sight of the hosts’ goal came in the 12th minute when a second ball from an initial Manning set piece saw Ebosele’s deep cross from the right to the back post force Costa into action under pressure from Coleman.

Cristiano Ronaldo struck the post in the 16th minute with a low left-footed effort that beat Kelleher, with the rebound falling to Silva, whose snap shot went wide despite the goal at his mercy.

Jayson Molumby went close with a long-range effort in the 25th minute following excellent and patient build-up play. Molumby struck from just outside the box, his shot narrowly clearing Costa’s crossbar.

In the 33rd minute, Pedro Neto had a low effort as he tried to deceive Kelleher at his near post, but the shot went wide, the Irish goalkeeper having it covered. Portugal struck the top of the net in the 38th minute when a shot from outside the area by Vitinha deflected off the outstretched leg of O’Brien, sending it just over the bar.

Kelleher made an excellent reaction save in the closing stages of the first half when a corner directed to the near post saw the Irish keeper react quickest to deny Inácio, whose header was goalbound. This was followed by an excellent block from Collins to stop Rúben Neves’ goal-bound effort. Collins once again put his body on the line on the stroke of half-time to deny Silva’s certain goal-bound strike in what was an excellent defensive performance from the away side.

Ireland were called into defensive duties once more in the early stages of the second half, with Bruno Fernandes seeing a shot blocked by Collins. The loose ball remained in the Irish area before the defence eventually cleared their lines. The Irish captain then denied Ronaldo a goal-bound header with an excellent block, cutting out a cross destined for the Portuguese forward.

Fernandes set up Ronaldo inside the Irish area in the 53rd minute, but the striker’s effort went wide under pressure from the Irish backline. Kelleher produced an excellent save in the 60th minute to deny Rúben Neves, as Portugal broke from inside their own half. Neves struck a low effort from distance that Kelleher did superbly to tip wide, before following up with another fine stop to push Pedro Neto’s shot past the post.

Ireland had a chance to test the Portuguese defence when Ogbene’s cross from the right had to be cleared away from the advancing run of Molumby. Portugal were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute after O’Shea was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area from an initial Trincão shot. Ronaldo stepped up and sent his effort straight down the middle, but Kelleher did brilliantly to divert it wide with his foot for a corner.

Gonçalo Ramos missed the target in the closing stages when a cross from the right was met by the striker, whose header went just wide of Kelleher's near post. The home side continued to press but were denied at every turn, with substitute John Egan making a crucial intervention to deny Neves in the area by turning the ball behind for a corner.

In added time, Portugal finally broke the deadlock through Neves. He met Trincão’s cross from the right at the near post — a crushing blow for Ireland after such a resilient display. The hosts nearly added a second late on as an Irish attack broke down, with Molumby’s shot blocked before Mendes broke down the right to fire low across the face of goal and wide.

The Republic of Ireland will continue their World Cup qualification campaign when they face Armenia at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.

Portugal: Costa (GK), Dias, Dalot (Trincão 62), Ronaldo (C), Fernandes (Ramos 86), Silva, Inácio (Veiga 46), Neto, Mendes, Neves, Vitinha (Semedo 62).
Subs not used: José Sá, Rui Silva, António Silva, Palhinha, Gonçalves, Nunes, Leão, Conceição.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Coleman (Egan 86), Manning, O'Shea, O'Brien, Cullen, Molumby, Ferguson (Parrott 78), Ogbene (Smallbone 78), Ebosele (Johnson 64), Collins (C).​​​​​​​

Subs not used: Bazunu (GK), Travers (GK), Idah, Azaz, Dunne, Ferry, Taylor, McAteer,​​​​​​

Booked: Ebosele (IRL), Fernandes (POR), Kelleher (IRL), Molumby (IRL), Manning (IRL), Cullen (IRL), Silva (POR). ​​​​​​​

Sent off: None​​​​​​​

Player of the Match: Jake O’Brien (IRL)

Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)

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