Portugal held at home by Northern Ireland
Reuters - Tuesday 16 October 2012, 22:55
A late Helder
Postiga goal saved Portugal from an embarrassing defeat on the night
Cristiano Ronaldo won his 100th cap as they were held to a 1-1 home draw
by Northern Ireland in World Cup Group F qualifying on Tuesday.
Aberdeen
winger Niall McGinn gave the Irish a shock lead in Oporto when he made
the most of a fast counter-attack in the 30th minute.
Postiga then grabbed the equaliser with 11 minutes to go on a rain-soaked pitch at the Dragao Stadium.
Portugal
are now third in the group, level on seven points from four games with
second-placed Israel but five adrift of group leaders Russia. The Irish
have two points from three matches and are third from bottom.
"This
was a bad result, we were poor in the first half and wasteful in the
second. They punished us from a counter-attack and the goal brought
anxiety," Portugal coach Paulo Bento told local television.
"I
still believe we will make the 2014 finals in Brazil. It depends solely
on us to get there via the play-offs if we can only get second place in
the group."
Before the
kick-off a grinning Ronaldo raised his thumb in approval as the
27-year-old became the third youngest European to reach a century of
international appearances behind German Lukas Podolski and Kristen
Viikmae of Estonia.
The Real
Madrid striker's smile was shortlived though as Portugal, beaten 1-0 in
Russia on Friday, lacked imagination and creativity against a combative
Irish side.
"They had a lot of players in the defensive area which made it really difficult for us," said Postiga.
The
home team gave a miserable first-half performance and went behind when
McGinn's quick run up field caught right-back Joao Pereira off guard.
The
Irish then had a double scare when centre-back Craig Cathcart miskicked
a clearance against his own woodwork and Aaron Hughes went close to
putting a header through his net.
Visiting keeper Roy Carroll also had to produce a fine reflex save to deny former Manchester United team-mate Ronaldo.
Paulo
Bento brought on Eder in the 74th minute and Postiga pounced on a
header from the tall Braga striker to earn his side a point.