Ireland fall short in Lisbon as late goal steals the points
Seamus Coleman celebrated his 37th birthday with a memorable return to international football, but the night ended in heartbreak for the Republic of Ireland. In Lisbon, a determined defensive display kept Portugal at bay for long spells, only for Ruben Neves to head in a 91st-minute winner and leave Ireland ruing a point that could have been.
The veteran right-back, capped by a string of injuries last season, played 86 minutes as part of a five-man defensive set-up. He later admitted that while conceding was painful, the performance offered a glimpse of the qualities Ireland want to replicate on a tougher night’s test.
Reaction from Seamus Coleman and the Irish camp
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Coleman said: “Very disappointing to concede. They have a lot of quality. I think the performance was good. We resembled for large periods of the game what I think an Irish side should be: stick together, work hard for each other, play for the fans, togetherness.” He emphasized that despite the loss, there were positive signs: “There was a calmness and a control to our play at times.”
He stressed the crucial mindset ahead of the Armenia clash: “Tuesday night against Armenia is where we’ve got to show it and there’s no hiding behind anything. It’s a tough one to take. We have to take it, and we must win Tuesday night.”
Reflecting on his own involvement, Coleman added that his body felt fine and that he hoped to contribute again. “I’ve been brought up to give your best for your teammates and training your best every single day. That’s what I do,” he said, underscoring his enduring commitment to Ireland.
Martinez’s perspective: a tough night for Ireland, a reward for Portugal
Roberto Martinez, Coleman’s former Everton manager, was in the opposing dugout for this game. He praised his former player: “I did congratulate Seamus on his birthday. He was probably the best right-back in the Premier League in 2013. He’s an example.” Martinez acknowledged a tricky season for minutes but highlighted Coleman’s resilience and experience as key assets.
Martinez also explained why he felt Ireland’s performance merited reward only to come up empty late: “From the defensive point of view, it was a very committed and a very good performance. We knew the level they showed against Armenia wasn’t the real Ireland, so a reaction was coming. We parked the bus, got in good organisation, and hit them on the counter.” He singled out Kelleher’s late penalty save as a pivotal moment, noting the goalkeeper’s influence in keeping Ireland in the contest.
What’s next for Ireland?
With Portugal on the brink of sealing a World Cup spot by beating Hungary if Armenia fail to win in Dublin, Ireland must regroup quickly. Martinez pointed out that continuing the current level of performance could yield results, stressing that the Irish side have the capacity to win games when they maintain their structure and intensity.
The immediate focus shifts to the Armenia game, live on RTÉ2/Player, as Ireland chase three points that would keep their qualification hopes alive. Coleman’s leadership and the squad’s togetherness will be crucial as they navigate the next high-stakes fixture.
Key quotes
- “Very disappointing to concede… the performance was good.” – Seamus Coleman
- “Tuesday night against Armenia… we must win Tuesday night.” – Coleman
- “We deserved it… the goalkeeper was outstanding, even to save the penalty.” – Roberto Martinez
