CRISTIANO RONALDO finally broke the international scoring record against Ireland in their World Cup qualifier tonight – scoring twice in the last five minutes in a 2-1 win.
- RESULT: Portugal 2-1 Ireland
- Portugal XI: Patricio, Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro, Palhinha, Fernandes, B Silva, R Silva, Jota, Ronaldo
- Ireland XI: Bazunu, Coleman, Duffy, Egan, Cullen, Doherty, Idah, Hendrick, McGrath, O’Shea, Connolly
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THAT’S ALL FROM PORTUGAL
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo made history by saving his country’s blushes and single-handedly leading them to a late as well as dramatic 2-1 win against a very game Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo became record goalscorer in men’s international football after scoring his 110th – and then 111th – goal for his nation.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner almost reached that landmark just 10 minutes after kick-off from the penalty spot but was denied by Ireland’s impressive goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who successfully lunged to his bottom right corner.
That is when things started to go downhill for the hosts as Stephen Kenny’s men stunned them on 45 minutes when John Egan picked up a crisp corner-kick from the left by Jamie McGrath and headed in his first ever international goal.
Just when it all looked doomed, Ronaldo took matters into his own hands and equalised on 89 minutes after heading in a Goncalo Guedes cross from the right.
The Manchester United signing wasn’t done there as he turned things around on the sixth minute of stoppage time with yet another header following a cross by Joao Mario from the right.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a great night!
GETTY IMAGES NEW RECORD
Manchester United signing Cristiano Ronaldo beat Iran legend Ali Daei’s record and is now record goalscorer in men’s international football.
Ronaldo got a brace against the Republic of Ireland and now counts 111 goals in 180 caps for Portugal.
That means the five-time Ballon d’Or winner now has two more goals than Daei.
The star forward, however, won’t get to extend his record on Tuesday when the Portuguese national team travels to Azerbaijan as he is suspended with yet another yellow card for removing his shirt during his goal celebrations.
RONALDO REACTS
Portugal captain and Manchester United signing Cristiano Ronaldo is over the moon after his record goals.
Ronaldo told RTE: “I’m so happy.
“Not only because I beat the record but because of the special moments that we had.
“Two goals in the end of the game, so tough but I have to appreciate what the team did, playing until the end. And the supporters… I’m so glad.
“It’s [penalty miss] part of the business. It’s part of the business. Sometimes you score, sometimes you make a mistake.
“But I still believed until the end of the game. But I’m so glad to score and to win the game”
GETTY IMAGES
RON THE MARK
And here is how Cristiano Ronaldo single-handedly won the match for Portugal.
Ronaldo beat Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu with yet another header.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner surpassed Ali Daei’s record by scoring his 110th goal in 180 caps a few minutes earlier.
Now the Manchester United signing counts two more goals than Daei
RECORD BREAKER
Cristiano Ronaldo made history out of nowhere at the Estadio Algarve.
Portugal captain Ronaldo became the all-time top goalscorer in men’s international football.
The Manchester United signing equalised against the Republic of Ireland with a stunning header on 89 minutes.
Check it out:
UPDATED TABLE
Portugal are now top of Group A with three points ahead of Serbia, who have one match less.
Fernando Santos’ men are still undefeated in the World Cup qualifiers with three wins in four matches.
Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, are still second from last with zero points having lost all of their first three matches.
More below:
STATS
Portugal dominated 72.1 per cent of possession throughout the World Cup qualifier.
The hosts also registered a total of 29 shots, seven of which were on target.
Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, only produced six shots, two of which were on target.
Ireland totally dominated in the air as they won 77.3 per cent of aerial duels
FT: PORTUGAL 2-1 IRELAND
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo made history by saving his country’s blushes and single-handedly turning the match around against a very game Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo became record goalscorer in men’s international football after scoring his 110th goal for his nation.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner almost reached that accolade just 10 minutes after kick-off from the penalty spot but was denied by Ireland’s impressive goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who successfully lunged to his bottom right corner.
That is when things started to go downhill for the hosts as Stephen Kenny’s men stunned them on 45 minutes when John Egan picked up a wonderful corner-kick from the left by Jamie McGrath and headed in his first ever international goal.
When it all looked like Fernando Santos’ men would experience a shocking upset Ronaldo took matters into his own hands and equalised on 89 minutes after heading in a Goncalo Guedes cross from the right.
The Manchester United signing wasn’t down there as he turned things around on the sixth minute of stoppage time with another header following a cross by Joao Mario from the right
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL-TIME IN PORTUGAL!!!!!
PORTUGAL 2-1 IRELAND
90+6 YELLOW CARD
Ronaldo gets booked after his goal for taking his shirt off and is thus suspended from the next game against Azerbaijan!
PORTUGAL 2-1 IRELAND
90+6 Unbelievable! How does he do it?!
Ronaldo has won it for Portugal single-handedly!
In the last kick of the game the Manchester United picks up a cross from Mario down the left flank and beats Bazunu with another incredible header!
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
PORTUGAL WIN THIS WITH RONALDO!!!!!!
PORTUGAL 1-1 IRELAND
90+5 CHANCE!
Mario tries a long-range shot but is denied by Bazunu as the ball goes straight into his arms!
PORTUGAL 1-1 IRELAND
90+3 Ronaldo has made history as the all-time top goalscorer in men’s international football.
The Portugal captain has netted 110 goals in 180 caps for his country
GETTY IMAGES PORTUGAL 1-1 IRELAND
90+2 Ireland manager Kenny replaces McGrath with Molumby.
Portugal are now pushing for a second!
PORTUGAL 1-1 IRELAND
90 Five more minutes of added time to go.
Ireland came close to a second earlier on but McClean’s beautiful shot was denied by Patricio
PORTUGAL 1-1 IRELAND
89 He did it! They did it!
Guedes sends in a cross from the right that is met by a stunning Ronaldo header that finally beats Bazunu.
The Portugal captain has made history as the top scorer in the history of international football.
Not a bad way to come back to Manchester United…
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!
PORTUGAL EQUALISE WITH RONALDO!!!!!!!!
PORTUGAL 0-1 IRELAND
89 CHANCE!
Portugal captain Ronaldo delivers a stunning free-kick but is denied by Bazunu!
PORTUGAL 0-1 IRELAND
87 WHAT A CHANCE!
Portugal come extremely close to an equaliser!
Guedes passes to Mario from the right and the latter’s shot is blocked by Omobamidele.
A ball comes back in and finds Ronaldo who is right in front of Bazunu but the Manchester United signing is caught offside.
PORTUGAL 0-1 IRELAND
85 Five minutes to go and Portugal are applying unbelievable pressure on Ireland.
But the visitors are still holding!
PORTUGAL 0-1 IRELAND
83 SUBSTITUTION
Portugal manager Santos replaces Cancelo with Guedes.
Expect Kenny to make some late changes to slow down the clock and tempo
PORTUGAL 0-1 IRELAND
82 CHANCE!
Portugal almost scored a worldie with Andre Silva, who tries an overhead kick inside the area.
But the ball goes way over Bazunu’s crossbar.
That was probably a sign that Portugal are running out of ideas…
PORTUGAL 0-1 IRELAND
80 Ireland’s pace has seriously slowed down after losing Connolly.
The visitors are now trying to hold on to their lead with everything they got
PORTUGAL 0-1 IRELAND
77 Portugal are desperately looking for that equaliser that will put them back in the game.
But with all their missed chances, it looks very unlikely that the hosts can turn this around even if they do equalise
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
