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Portugal hand Ireland under-21s an opening loss

Friday 7th September 2007, 10:52 pm

Ireland's under-21 side got off to the worst possible start in their European qualifying campaign in front of a sparsely attended Turner's Cross tonight.

Portugal ran out 2-0 winners against Don Givens' side and a fourth minute opening goal left Ireland on the back foot for almost the entire game.

Machado got in to flick home a header from Moreira's right wing cross as Portugal pressed Ireland back after the home side struggled to clear a corner kick.

Machado might have helped himself to a second less than ten minutes later as he pounced on a slip from Eddie Nolan. Fortunately for Ireland though the goal-scorer missed the target this time.

If not for goalkeeper Darren Randolph, Ireland surely would have lost by a much larger margin. The keeper got across superbly to push away Veloso's driven free kick after fifteen minutes.

James O'Brien fired an Irish free kick well off target from what was a rare Irish adventure forward in the twentieth minute.

Adam Rooney failed to control close to goal after great work from Billy Clarke as the Portuguese defence held firm.

Randolph was again called into action in the closing minutes of the first half as he saved well from both Veloso and Vieirinha.

Clarke went racing into the Portuguese penalty area just on the stroke of half-time after being played in by Stephen Gleeson. However Manuel da Costa got back superbly to slide the ball away to safety with a brave tackle in the box.

Portugal again took the Irish defence apart inside ten minutes of the second half as Veloso drilled home a low shot to the corner of the net after great work from Moreira who left the Irish defence in his wake before he cut the ball back to the edge of the box.

Randolph saved again just before the hour to deny Costa's long range shot at goal.

Portugal were content with their lead and sat back somewhat after taking their two goal lead.

Substitutes Owen Garvan and Michael Collins both forced saves from visiting keeper Batista but Ireland never looked like salvaging a point from the game.

Ireland : Randolph, Nolan, Keogh, O'Dea(Celtic), O'Halloran, Gleeson (Collins 67), Cregg (Garvan 46), Quinn, O'Brien, Rooney (Sammon 72), Clark.
Portugal : Batista, Coelho, Veloso (Coimbra 83), V Fernandes, Antunes, Pele, Vieirinha, Costa, M Fernandes, Moreira (Cicero 87), Machado (Barbosa 81).