Pain and heartbreak all over again.
Familiar emotions were shared between the Republic of Ireland players and 2,700 travelling fans inside Estádio José Alvalade on Saturday night. Rúben Neves had settled the issue with a winning goal in the 91st minute to keep Portugal in pole position for World Cup qualification.
Ireland now hope Roberto Martinez’s side can wrap up Group F by beating Hungary in Lisbon on Tuesday before Portugal come to Dublin on November 13th.
All week, the noise from Heimir Hallgrímsson’s camp was about producing an “Irish performance” to atone for the damaging defeat to Armenia in Yerevan last month.
Ireland weathered 76 Portugal attacks before Neves’s late header beat the outstanding Caoimhín Kelleher.
Equally inspirational resistance from captain Nathan Collins and Séamus Coleman – recalled on his 37th birthday – made Ireland look comfor
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