Portugal make winning start

Portugal sent out a statement of intent in their first Group 3 qualifier with goals early in each half earning three points against a determined Republic of Ireland side.

Early opener
The visitors made a dream start when Paulo Machado met an inviting cross and guided his header into the bottom corner from close range with just three minutes on the clock. Ireland responded well as they went in search of an equaliser but they were nearly caught out on the counterattack with Vieirinha forcing a good save from Darren Randolph. The defining moment came after 53 minutes when Sporting Clube de Portugal starlet Miguel Veloso rifled in an unstoppable shot from just outside the penalty area after wrong-footing the Irish defence.