Heimir Hallgrimsson was left heartbroken after seeing the Republic of Eire succumb to Portugal in stoppage-time.
Ruben Neves’ last-gasp header – on an evening when Cristiano Ronaldo noticed his penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher – handed the Group F leaders a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Lisbon as Eire got here agonisingly near claiming a well-known draw.
Commercial
That will have gone a few of the solution to offering an antidote to final month’s deeply damaging 2-1 defeat in Armenia after a efficiency which lacked the braveness and organisation on show on the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
A deflated Hallgrimsson mentioned afterwards: “It’s simply painful, actually painful and a heartbreaking consequence.
“Generally we coaches attempt to have a look at efficiency once we lose video games. I feel what we deliberate to do, our game-plan, labored. Staff effort, team-work have been wonderful. There was a variety of vitality put into this match.
Commercial
“Simply being so shut and ending up with nothing going again to Eire is painful. That’s my response to the sport.
“Perhaps you need to ask about tactical issues and stuff, however that is how I really feel after the sport. It’s painful.”
Hallgrimsson’s males head into Tuesday evening’s must-win conflict with Armenia in Dublin bruised, however buoyed by a powerful rearguard motion in Lisbon, though a return of only a single level from their first 9 on provide tells its personal story.
Commercial
It appeared prefer it was going to be Eire’s evening when, after a primary half throughout which that they had pissed off the hosts, goalkeeper Kelleher saved Ronaldo’s penalty to disclaim him a 142nd senior worldwide objective in his 224th look for his nation.
Requested concerning the penalty determination – which was awarded after Francisco Trincao’s shot had hit Dara O’Shea’s arm – Hallgrimsson mentioned: “Was it right? I wouldn’t have given it, however the guidelines are like this.
Ruben Neves (centre) netted Portugal’s winner on the demise (Zed Jameson/PA)
“If the referee offers a penalty, then the VAR must say it’s a fallacious determination, so I feel we can’t argue that it went to the hand, however the hand was near the chest.
Commercial
“Most likely most referees wouldn’t have given it, however when you give it, the VAR must say that you just gave a fallacious determination. That’s how the foundations are, so I can’t complain about that.”
Ronaldo, who additionally had a penalty saved by Gavin Bazunu in a World Cup qualifier in Faro 4 years in the past, had earlier hit the publish, and it took a header from Ruben Neves within the first minute of stoppage-time to spare the 40-year-old famous person’s blushes.
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez admitted he had not been fooled by Eire’s efficiency in Yerevan and noticed the sport unfold precisely as he had anticipated.
Commercial
Roberto Martinez’s Portugal snatched most factors on the demise (Zed Jameson/PA)
Martinez mentioned: “We realised the sport in opposition to Armenia wasn’t of the extent we anticipated. We knew it was a recreation of response, of all or nothing, a recreation performed as a closing.
“We weren’t stunned with the tactical side, however we have been stunned by the aggression, successful the duels, defending so nicely, having unimaginable solidarity for one another.
“For us, we deserved to win. Certain, it’s irritating for Eire to concede so late.”