World Cup Qualifier Report: Republic of Ireland 0 – 0 Portugal

Cahal McAuley reports from the Aviva Stadium | Full Gallery from David Ribeiro  

The Republic of Ireland played out a scoreless draw with Portugal in an entertaining World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday evening.

Ireland played ten minutes with a man advantage after Pepe received his marching orders for receiving two yellow cards, but the Boys in Green  couldn’t find a winner, despite having a late goal disallowed in dubious circumstances.

A sold-out crowd created a fiery atmosphere as Ireland looked to secure a first win against Portugal since 2005.

The game got off to a fast start with Portugal looking threatening in the opening minutes.

The fact that the Irish team was playing in front of a full Aviva for the first time in almost two years may have created some nerves in the early stages as they struggled to hold on to possession for any length of time after winning it back.

Cristiano Ronaldo attempted to dance his way through the Irish defence just before the ten-minute mark, but Seamus Coleman was equal to his effort as the home side began to settle and use the crowd to their advantage.

Portugal continued in the ascendancy and forced Gavin Bazunu into his first save of the night as he palmed an effort from Andre Silva around the post.

The visitors threatened again minutes later as Goncalo Guedes flicked the ball around Enda Stevens, laying it off to Ronaldo who saw his shot brilliantly blocked by a diving Shane Duffy.

Stephen Kenny’s side became increasingly composed in possession as the half progressed and began to look the more likely team to score around the 25-minute mark.

The front three of Callum Robinson, Jamie McGrath and Chiedozie Ogbene were in tune with each other as they broke as one through the Portugal midfield. Ogbene played in Robinson, who’s cross-cum-shot forced Patricio to dive to his left and fist the ball away from danger.

The Irish side looked dangerous from set pieces all game and were just an unfortunate bounce away from having a clear shot on a couple of occasions as the ball just wouldn’t fall to Jeff Hendrick or Robinson at different stages of the half.

Portugal dominated the opening stages, but Ireland took control in the second quarter and went in at half time buoyed by the fact that they had given as good as they’d got against the former European champions.

The game was played in a scrappier fashion after the restart with both sides struggling to create anything clear cut.

The home side’s ferocious pressing almost paid dividends ten minutes into the second half, as they robbed Portugal in their own penalty area with the ball eventually falling to Josh Cullen who could only produce a tame effort into the arms of Patricio.

The tempo of the match slowed considerably for a period, until Ronaldo came inches from scoring with his side’s best chance of the night.

Andre Silva whipped in a dangerous ball from the left-hand side, which was met by the head of Ronaldo, but his header drifted agonisingly wide of Bazunu’s post.

The away side came close with a header once again a few minutes later as substitute Rafael Leao breezed past Matt Doherty and found Silva, but Duffy was on hand to make a crucial block for the second time in the game.

The Boys in Green rode out this second period of Portuguese pressure and hit back with a chance of their own with a quarter of an hour left on the clock.

Ogbene delivered a clever pass from the right wing, into the path of Stevens who burst a lung to get forward from defence, but the Sheffield United man couldn’t keep his effort down despite being in space in the box.

Ronaldo continued to look dangerous throughout the night, reminding the Irish defence of his quality as he created space, but saw his curling shot sail wide of the post.

Portugal began to commit more and more niggling fouls as the second half progressed and were eventually punished with just under ten minutes to play.

Veteran defender Pepe was booked for a handball on 70 minutes and received his marching orders twelve minutes later for striking Callum Robinson with a flailing arm.

The raucous home crowd urged their side forward after gaining a man advantage, but Portugal looked content to leave with a point as they dropped deep and refused to commit men forward even when in possession of the ball.

Ireland continued to pile on the pressure late on and thought they had grabbed a famous winner when Matt Doherty put the ball in the Portuguese net after some chaos in the penalty area.

However, to the dismay of the Aviva crowd, the goal was chalked off as Will Keane, making his Ireland debut, was deemed to have pushed Patricio in the build-up, although it didn’t look like there was much in it.

Ronaldo almost broke Irish hearts for the second time this campaign, storming through on goal in the dying seconds, but Bazunu stood tall and blocked his shot, denying the legendary striker once again.

The full-time whistle rang around the Aviva stadium with a slight air of disappointment that the Boys in Green hadn’t managed to capitalise on the man advantage in the final ten minutes.

However, Kenny’s side will take numerous positives from the game as they held one of the most dangerous attacks in world football and managed to cause some difficulties themselves.

Portugal will also be quietly satisfied to escape with a point as it means that they only need to draw with Serbia on Sunday to qualify as group winners.

Luxembourg’s victory against Azerbaijan means that the Republic of Ireland must now win away against the side that beat them in Dublin in March if they want to finish in third, but a draw against one of world football’s elite sides leaves Ireland within touching distance of a hugely positive end to the campaign.

Republic of Ireland: Gavin Bazunu; Séamus Coleman (c), Shane Duffy, John Egan; Matt Doherty, Jeff Hendrick (Conor Hourihane 78), Joshua Cullen, Enda Stevens (James McClean 78),; Callum Robinson, Chiedozie Ogbene (Will Keane 90), Jamie McGrath (Adam Idah 61).
Subs not used: Mark Travers, Caoimhin Kelleher, Nathan Collins, Jason Knight, Alan Browne, Ryan Manning, Troy Parrott, Callum O'Dowda. 
Booked: Chiedozie Ogbene (29), Séamus Coleman (54), Matt Doherty (90). 

Portugal: Rui Patricio; Danilo, Pepe, Diogo Dalot, Nelson Semedo; Joao Palhinha, Matheus Nunes (Joao Moutinho 56), Bruno Fernandes (Renato Sanches 75); Cristiano Ronaldo (c), Goncalo Guedes (Rafael Leao 56), André Silva (Joao Felix 75).
Subs not used: Jose Sa, Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Rúben Neves, William Carvalho, Diogo Jota. 
Booked: Danilo (70) ,Pepe (72 and 82). 
Sent off: Pepe (82). 

Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain). 
Attendance: 50,737
extratime.com Player of the Match: Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland)

Gavin Kilkenny: 'It's just about taking your chance when it comes, so that's what I've done so far' https://t.co/y9tgbATQBOpic.twitter.com/Unm0VbT9PS

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