- Dave Donnelly
- Tue, Sep 20 2016
The Republic of Ireland's European Championship qualifying campaign came to a disappointing finish as they lost 1-0 to Portugal at Tallaght Stadium.
Portugal captain Claudia Neto scored the only goal of the game 12 minutes from time to earn her side second place in Group 2 anda play-off with Russia to qualify for the finals in the Netherlands next summer.
The visitors needed only a win of any kind – and to hope group winners Spain beat Finland at the same time – to progress, while Ireland knew a win of their own would lift them above Portugal into third.
Sue Ronan's side nearly began the game in the best way possible as Julie-Ann Russell found space wide on the left and swung in a cross towards the awaiting Karen Duggan and Aine O'Gorman.
Duggan got her head to the ball first and sent a looping header towards goal that, briefly, looked like it would catch out Portuguese keeper Patricia Morais, but she just about kept it out with the aid of the bar.
Following that hectic start, Portugal slowly began to get their passing rhythm going and sought to slow the game down to their own, more comfortable tempo, while Ireland struggled to get on the ball.
It took the visitors 15 minutes to fashion a chance of their own, and it came about amid some confusion in the Irish defence as the ball sat up for Neto 12 yards out, but her fierce strike fortunately cannoned back off her team mate Vanessa Marques.
Another cross from Russell, charged down this time, saw the loose ball drop invitingly for Ruesha Littlejohn on the edge of the area, but she couldn't adjust her feet quickly enough and her rushed shot spun well wide.
Ten minutes before the break, Portugal had a glorious chance to take the lead as Ana Leite was afforded far too much space in the box and looked set to blast past Emma Byrne only for a tremendous sliding tackle from right-back Jetta Berrill to foil her at the vital moment.
That scare appeared to galvanised the Irish team and they finished the half on the front foot, and the Portuguese were perhaps a touch relieved as a late flurry of pressure ended with Katie McCabe curling her free kick safely into the arms of Morais.
And Ireland had the first chance of the second half as a carefully-weighted through-ball from Littlejohn set O'Gorman clear on goal, but she was stretching slightly as she struck the ball and Morais was able to make the save.
Portugal then squandered a good chance as Ireland were caught short on the right-hand side but Vanessa Marquez skewed her shot wide from close range, before Neto's viciously-swerving free kick nearly caught out Byrne, going out for a corner off the keeper's standing foot.
A well-worked corner routine between Neto and Leita saw the former pull her shot just wide, before O'Gorman was inches away from playing substitute Claire Shine in on goal only to slightly overhit the pass.
Just when it appeared the game was to peter out, with Ireland the marginally more likely to make something happen, Portugal won a penalty as Berill was caught out by the quick feet of Ana Borges and gave away a penalty.
Captain Neto stepped up to take and saw her relatively well-struck effort saved by Byrne, but Ireland were slow to react to the rebound and Neto was able to squeeze her header in off the post, to Byrne's visible frustration, having done the necessary hard part herself.
It was rough justice on an Irish side who, for long periods, looked more intent upon breaking the stalemate, but perhaps reward for the Portuguese side who hadn't deviated from their patient passing style.
The win means Portugal progress to the play-off as group runners-up, boasting a better head-to-head record with Finland, while Ireland will rue defeats in their three of their four home games.
Republic of Ireland: Emma Byrne; Jetta Berrill, Louise Quinn, Niamh Fahey, Sophie Perry; Karen Duggan (Roma McLaughlin 82), Diane Caldwell, Katie McCabe, Ruesha Littlejohn, Julie-Ann Russell (Claire Shine 64); Aine O'Gorman (Fiona O'Sullivan 87).
Subs not used: Grace Moloney (gk), Savannah McCarthy, Meabh De Burca, Emma Beckett.
Booked: Katie McCabe (69), Sophie Perry (90+2).
Portugal: Patricia Morais; Matilda Fidalgo; Silvia Rebelo, Carole Costa, Ana Borges; Dolores Silva, Suzane Pires (Fatima Pinto 82), Amanda Da Costa (Tatiana Pinto 64), Claudia Neto, Vanessa Marques; Ana Leite (Diana Silva 90).
Subs not used: Jamila Marreiros (gk), Regina Perreira, Edite Fernandes, Carolina Mendes.
Booked: Claudio Neto (79).
Referee: Esther Azzopardi (Malta).
Attendance: 1,500 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Claudia Neto (Portugal).
See pictures from the game as taken by Laszlo Geczo and Peter Fitzpatrick here.
