World Cup qualifying: Portugal 2-1 Republic of Ireland - late Ronaldo double delivers dramatic win for Portugal

1. Portugal 2-1 Republic of Ireland
2. Late Ronaldo double wins it for Portugal
3. John Egan gives Republic half-time lead
4. Gavin Bazunu saves early Cristiano Ronaldo penalty
5. Ronaldo will break men's international goal record if he scores
6. Republic lost first two qualifiers against Serbia and Luxembourg, Portugal top of Group A with seven points from three games
7. Republic striker Shane Long misses out after testing positive for Covid-19
8. Updates from France v Bosnia-Herzegovina and Norway v Netherlands (both 19:45 BST)
9. Get Involved - #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)

Over and out

Defeat leaves the Republic of Ireland without a point from three games.

But they must find a way to pick themselves up because they have another game in three days.

They will play Azerbaijan at home in what will be Stephen Kenny's first match as boss in front of fans at the Aviva Stadium.

As for Portugal, they have a friendly against Qatar on Saturday before resuming their qualifying campaign against Azerbaijan on Tuesday.

Thanks for joining us tonight. It was an exhilarating game, but not one Irish fans will want to watch back any time soon.

And Ronaldo? Oh, you can rest assured he'll be showing his new Manchester United team-mates the clips of his two goals.

Bye!

Viva Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo came into tonight on the cusp of becoming the record men's international goalscorer.

He saw a penalty saved, he was lucky to escape punishment for raising his hand to Dara O'Shea, he had countless speculative shots blocked.

But, as they say, the greatest players always find a way, and Ronaldo did.

Not only did he score a record 110th goal for Portugal, he somehow came up with a last-gasp winner for his country, edging them closer to next year's World Cup and making sure that, barring a miracle, the Irish won't be joining them.

Getty Images

Getty Images

Getty Images

Republic 'a minute away' from greatest away result in Irish history

Final words from Kenny, who was visibly gutted for his players after they came agonisingly close to, what he says, would have been the "greatest result in Ireland's football history".

"Gavin Bazunu showed his character because he'd made a mistake and he's one of those goalkeepers you'd think he might save it," he said.

"He has the capacity, even though he's only 19, to save that, because there are elements of his character that would suggest that, that's been visible to me.

"We played well, had some good chances. The players knew it would have been the greatest result in Ireland's football history in terms of qualification, we've never won away to a major nation like this.

"We've done it at tournaments but not in a qualification series, so they knew that was the prize. We were a minute away and it's been taken away from us, but we have to take it and dust ourselves down and get ready for Saturday."

'Incredible' that free-kick was given - Kenny

Here's a bit more from Kenny, who is dumbfounded as to how the referee awarded Portugal a free-kick for a handball against Josh Cullen in the build-up to Cristiano Ronaldo's equaliser.

"The free-kick that's given, just outside the box, they shoot wide so it's incredible that it was given," said Kenny.

"But listen, these are things you sometimes just have to accept. When you have to win away, you do have to win against the odds but I think the players were magnificent, their efforts were really something to be proud of.

"They were brave on the ball and they put their bodies on the line, you can't ask for anymore. They really give everything and to lose is so difficult for them at the moment."

'I can't believe that we've lost'

Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny has been speaking to Sky Sports.

"We're hugely disappointed, the players have been exceptional tonight overall," he said.

"The game in the first half went as we wanted, we were able to counter with Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah's pace and were able to restrict Portugal's chances - and controlled passages of the game, and scored.

"We had the chance to go two up, but Portugal were very good second half, we had to dig in and we defended heroically.

"I just can't believe that we've lost because we should have won it."

We'll have reaction from Stephen Kenny in a few minutes.

'It felt like there was something there for us' -

Republic defender John Egan has had his say.

"It's honestly gutting," said the defender, who scored his first Republic goal in front of his family at Estadio Algarve.

"We're all gutted inside there, to put in that performance away from home against a world-class team, with one of the best ever players in it, we really felt like there was something there for us tonight.

"To walk away with nothing is very disappointing. We'll look back on it and it felt like a really good performance, but just gutted not to get a result."

Get Involved

I Am Dee: CR7 is the only player we can all agree who lacks NOTHING in his talent-set. Greatest ever to play the game...

Sam Hankins: How was Ronaldo still on the pitch after absolutely smacking O'Shea across the face?

Kyle Utterson: I know players know the rules but for Ronaldo to be banned just because he took his shirt off after scoring a 96th minute winner is a travesty. I'm sure kids going to the match in Azerbaijan will be gutted not to see Cristiano Ronaldo play live. Stupid rule

'We believed until the end' - Ronaldo

Ronaldo has been speaking to RTE's Tony O'Donoghue.

On the night: "I'm so happy, not just because I beat the record, but for the special moment that we had. I have to appreciate what the team did, we believed until the end. I'm so glad."

On his penalty miss: "It's part of the game, part of the business. Sometimes you score, sometimes you make a mistake."

And with that, he hurried off, presumably to soak up more adulation from the Portuguese fans.

It will be impossible at the moment, but in the fullness of time, the Republic players should really hold their heads high.

Adam Idah was excellent up top and there were herculean efforts from Seamus Coleman and co at the back.

What a game of football.

It had all the blood and thunder of an actual tournament match. Absolutely riveting from start to finish.

But a gut-wrenching climax for the Irish. Stephen Kenny will be sick to his stomach.

Have to agree with you there, RegularJon.

Get Involved

RegularJon: not bad for a 36 year old has been. Incredible header, that second! What a player

Wordplay Genius: After Ireland parked full spaceship in their box 18, the greatest footballer in the world did what he does best. Win

Simon Atkins: As soon as the first went in, the 2nd wasn't far behind.

Elsewhere in Europe

It's all over everywhere except Moldova v Austria, which was delayed because of a drone.

France v Bosnia and Norway v Netherlands both ended 1-1, with Russia and Croatia drawing 0-0.

Montenegro scored a 97th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with Turkey and Latvia netted twice in the final five minutes to beat Gibraltar 3-1.

Eran Zahavi scored a hat-trick as Israel beat the Faroe Islands 4-0 and Malta beat Cyprus 3-0.

Slovenia and Slovakia drew 1-1 and it was 0-0 between Russia and Croatia.

Scotland lost 2-0 in Denmark.

Stay with us for more reaction.

It will be interesting to hear what Stephen Kenny has to say.

The Republic of Ireland produced an absolutely monumental shift, but it will mean nothing to them now.

Football can be so cruel, especially when Ronaldo is on the other team.

The Irish players aren't happy as Ronaldo's goal came after the allotted five added minutes had been played.

Ronaldo doesn't care, though. He soaks up the acclaim from the home crowd.

FULL-TIME

The contrast in emotions between Cristiano Ronaldo and the Republic of Ireland players could not be more stark.

Heartbreaking stuff for Stephen Kenny's men, who put everything they have into that.

GOAL

Yep, him again.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Header.

In the 96th-minute. Devastating.

He's just about onside as he meets Joao Mario's cross. The power he generates on the header is incredible. You have to marvel at it.

The five minutes are up...