World Cup Qualifying Roundup: Portugal And Record-breaking Ronaldo Denied By Hungary

Cristiano Ronaldo group a grounds for World Cup qualifying goals but nan Group F leaders Portugal were denied early World Cup qualification by a precocious Hungary equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Two Ronaldo goals – nan first his 40th successful qualifying to group nan landmark – put Portugal connected nan verge of qualification but Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai struck successful added clip to extremity nan ceremony statement successful Lisbon.

Portugal’s adjacent chance to corroborate their spot successful nan World Cup finals tourney adjacent twelvemonth will beryllium against Republic of Ireland successful Dublin adjacent month.

Evan Ferguson’s 4th extremity successful 5 competitory internationals kept nan Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dream live arsenic they edged past 10-man Armenia to declare their first Group F victory.

The caput coach, Heimir Hallgrímsson, had admitted successful beforehand that he would judge a “shitty” capacity and a 1-0 triumph connected a nighttime erstwhile triumph was nan only option, and Ireland yet delivered – if only conscionable – arsenic they made nan astir of Tigran Barseghyan’s senseless second-half dismissal for a headbutt connected Finn Azaz.

Ferguson, who had passed up a glorious opportunity to unfastened nan scoring seconds earlier, dispatched a 70th-minute header to seal a 1-0 triumph astatine nan Aviva Stadium and guarantee Portugal’s sojourn to Dublin and nan travel to Hungary which follows it are meaningful, if daunting.

Italy kept live their hopes of qualifying automatically pinch a 3-0 triumph against Israel courtesy of 2 goals from Mateo Retegui and a precocious header from Gianluca Mancini successful Udine. The Italians stay 3 points down nan Group I leaders Norway, whom they meet astatine location adjacent month. The bottommost 2 teams Estonia and Moldova drew 1-1.

England person won Group K but Serbia stay successful nan hunt for 2nd spot aft beating Andorra 3-1 pinch Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic some connected nan scoresheet. Serbia will conflict it retired pinch Albania, 1 constituent ahead, for nan runners-up spot.

Turkey stay 3 points down nan Group E leaders Spain aft a 4-1 triumph against Georgia pinch Merih Demiral (two), Kenan Yildiz and Yunus Akgun each connected target for nan hosts.