![Ronaldo's record as Portugal snatch win (1) Ronaldo's record as Portugal snatch win (1)](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/16CDE/production/_120360439_mediaitem120360438.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo headed two late goals to break the men's international goals record as Portugal snatched a dramatic 2-1 World Cup qualifier win over a luckless Republic of Ireland in Faro.
A famous Irish win seemed on as John Egan's header in first-half injury time kept them ahead until the 89th minute.
But Ronaldo levelled in the closing seconds of normal time before his winning header in the 96th minute.
The defeat keeps the Republic without a point in Group A after three games.
Up until the incredible finale, it looked like being a miserable evening for Ronaldo after having a first-half penalty saved by young Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
However, the 36-year-old global superstar, who agreed a shock return to Manchester United last week, continued to probe around the Republic's penalty area and after levelling, his winning goal broke the visitors' hearts.
Ronaldo's two goals move him to 111 in the all-time international list and two ahead of former Iran striker Ali Daei.
Ronaldo record hype dominates build-up
The build-up to Wednesday's game was dominated by the prospect of Ronaldo breaking the international goals mark.
That moment seemed to have arrived when Jeff Hendrick's foul on Bruno Fernandes offered Ronaldo his penalty opportunity but the spot-kick was a good height to the Republic keeper's right who spread himself to make the save.
During the lengthy VAR review, Ronaldo looked fortunate to avoid sanction from Slovenian referee Matej Jug, when he appeared to slap Republic defender Dara O'Shea after he had kicked the ball off the penalty spot as the Portuguese star waited to take the spot-kick.
But after the Republic had defended heroically to seemingly frustrate the 2016 European champions, Ronaldo produced one of his classic leaps to pump a Goncaol Guedes cross past Bazunu before repeating the dose in the closing seconds of injury-time to thunder Joao Mario's delivery to the net.
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Defeat leaves Republic shellshocked
After an evening which potentially looked set to dramatically turn around the fortunes of Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, he was instead left still looking for his first competitive win as boss and with his only success in 14 games, the 4-1 friendly win over minnows Andorra in June.
While Ronaldo's 15th-minute penalty miss was followed by Liverpool striker Diogo Jota heading against the woodwork when it seemed easier to score, the Republic always looked threatening on the break with the pace of strikers Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah causing concerns for a jittery-looking home defence.
After several earlier promising openings had come to nought, Connolly was then denied by Portugal keeper Patricio in first-half injury-time but debutant Jamie McGrath's resultant corner was glanced in at the near post by Sheffield United defender Egan.
Tactically, the Irish were sound in the first half as they compressed the middle of the pitch, forcing the home side to attempt to probe via the flanks.
Seamus Coleman, in his right wing-back role, bombed forward on several occasions to cause panic in a Portuguese defence where centre-back Pepe looked particularly ill at ease.
O'Shea, after his earlier spat with Ronaldo, was soon forced off by injury as Norwich defender Andrew Omobamidele was introduced for his international debut.
Republic hold out until late heartbreak
While Portugal did pick up the pace after half-time, the Republic continued to produce threatening moments with Connolly inches away from doubling their lead with a 59th-minute volley, as the Brighton's striker's claims that he had been fouled by Joao Cancelo in the process fell on deaf ears.
But with the Irish tiring, Portugal began to monopolise possession as attempts began to rain in on Bazunu's goal.
Bernardo Silva, who joined Manchester City club-mates Cancelo and Ruben Dias in the Portugal starting team, looked certain to equalise in the 74th minute but somehow contrived to blaze over the bar from eight yards out.
Confirmation that it was going to the Republic's night seemed to have arrived in the 88th minute when Bazunu pushed away a Ronaldo free-kick from the edge of the box after Josh Cullen had been adjudged to have handled while attempting to block a shot.
But moments after the resultant corner, Portugal fashioned Ronaldo's equaliser and after James McClean had tested Patricio at the other end, the Manchester United superstar's second trademark header snatched the home team's victory in the sixth minute of injury-time after five extra minutes had been signalled.
What's next?
The Republic of Ireland resume Group A action at home to Azerbaijan on Saturday followed by Tuesday's Aviva Stadium contest against second-placed Serbia, who remain seven points ahead of the Irish.
Portugal travel to Azerbaijan for their next qualifier on Tuesday.
Match stats
- The Republic of Ireland are now 14 competitive games without a victory (D7 L7), their longest winless run
- Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score from the penalty spot for Portugal for the first time in seven attempts
- Andrew Omobamidele (19y 70d) became the fourth teenager to make his debut for the Republic of Ireland under Stephen Kenny
- Portugal have won 12 of their last 13 matches in World Cup qualifying since losing 2-0 to Switzerland in September 2016
- The Republic of Ireland are the 45th nation Cristiano Ronaldo has scored against
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Portugal
Formation 4-3-3
1Rui Patrício
20Cancelo3Pepe4Rúben Dias5Guerreiro
10Bernardo Silva6João Palhinha11Bruno Fernandes
15Ferreira Silva7Cristiano Ronaldo21Jota
- 1Rui Patrício
- 20CanceloSubstituted forGonçalo Guedesat 82'minutes
- 3Pepe
- 4Rúben Dias
- 5GuerreiroSubstituted forNuno Mendesat 62'minutes
- 10Bernardo Silva
- 6João PalhinhaSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 73'minutes
- 11Bruno FernandesSubstituted forJoão Márioat 62'minutes
- 15Ferreira SilvaSubstituted forAndré Silvaat 45'minutes
- 7Cristiano RonaldoBooked at 90mins
- 21Jota
Substitutes
- 2Nélson Semedo
- 8João Moutinho
- 9André Silva
- 12Lopes
- 13Danilo
- 14Coutinho Meneses Duarte
- 16Otávio
- 17Gonçalo Guedes
- 18Neves
- 19Nuno Mendes
- 22Diogo Costa
- 23João Mário
Republic of Ireland
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Bazunu
20O'Shea4Duffy5Egan
2Coleman13Hendrick6Cullen7Doherty
18McGrath21Connolly
9Idah
- 1Bazunu
- 20O'SheaBooked at 33minsSubstituted forOmobamideleat 35'minutes
- 4Duffy
- 5Egan
- 2Coleman
- 13HendrickBooked at 10mins
- 6Cullen
- 7DohertyBooked at 56mins
- 18McGrathSubstituted forMolumbyat 90'minutes
- 21ConnollyBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMcCleanat 72'minutes
- 9IdahSubstituted forCollinsat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Manning
- 8Hourihane
- 10Parrott
- 11McClean
- 12Arter
- 15Horgan
- 16Kelleher
- 17Molumby
- 19Collins
- 22Omobamidele
- 23Talbot
- Referee:
- Matej Jug
- Attendance:
- 7,831
Match Stats
Home TeamPortugalAway TeamRepublic of Ireland
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home29
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home14
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Portugal 2, Republic of Ireland 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Portugal 2, Republic of Ireland 1.
Booking
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!
Goal! Portugal 2, Republic of Ireland 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by João Mário with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. João Mário (Portugal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gonçalo Guedes.
Post update
Corner, Portugal. Conceded by Séamus Coleman.
Post update
Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Gonçalo Guedes.
Post update
Pepe (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Omobamidele (Republic of Ireland).
Post update
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Rui Patrício.
Post update
Attempt saved. James McClean (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. James Collins replaces Adam Idah.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Jayson Molumby replaces Jamie McGrath.
Goal!
Goal! Portugal 1, Republic of Ireland 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gonçalo Guedes with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Hand ball by Josh Cullen (Republic of Ireland).
Post update
Attempt blocked. João Moutinho (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. João Mário (Portugal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gonçalo Guedes.
Post update
Gonçalo Guedes (Portugal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by James McClean (Republic of Ireland).
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