Bruno Alves has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Raphaël Guerreiro.
A cracking assist with a cross from Guerreiro.
GOOOOAAAAAALLLL FOR PORTUGAL! Game, set, match! Bruno Alves gets involved in the scoring at this late stage as he shakes off the attentions of his marker at the back post to cushion a quite lovely header into the bottom right corner from a tight angle! Four-one.
90'
RONALDO DENIED A HAT-TRICK! On this occasion, the Portugal captain goes for his third goal by rising high inside the box to bullet a header towards the target, but luck continues to not be on his side as he witnesses his attempt crashing off the crossbar!
88'
Renato Sanches enters the game and replaces André Gomes.
We only have two minutes of normal time remaining but Bayern Munich starlet, Renato Sanches, will get a chance to impress off the bench as he comes on for Andre Gomes.
87'
V. Gutkovskis enters the game and replaces A. Rudņevs.
Another change from Latvia here as Rudnevs is replaced by Vladislavs Gutkovskis.
85'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Ricardo Quaresma.
GOOOOAAAAAALLLL FOR PORTUGAL! GAME OVER! From another Quaresma cross, the Real Madrid star and Ballon d'Or winner keeps his eye on the ball to fire a cracking volley low into the corner! He has equalled Gerd Muller's record for international goals! Three-one!
Another deserved assist from Quaresma.
84'
This performance provides memories of Portugal's incredible journey to the Euros title. They have been pretty abject out there at times but look on course to squeeze out another positive result, and at the expense of the plucky Latvia on this occasion.
82'
Great block from Maksimenko! Portugal actually have to defence a corner-kick but do so with ease before making their way up the pitch with a direct and speedy counter-attack. Quaresma leads the charge down the right wing and eventually reverses a pass back inside to Ronaldo, but the captain of the hosts is denied his second as the Latvia defender makes the brave challenge at the front post.
80'
Gelson Martins has looked bright since coming off the bench with a few fleeting surges of pace proving troublesome for the Latvia defence. However, the Sporting winger's final ball has not been up to scratch as of yet, summed up by the latest venture into opposition territory which ends in disappointment after a failed pass to Quaresma.
79'
A. Višņakovs enters the game and replaces G. Kļuškins.
78'
Second substitution from Latvia coach, Pahars. Entering for the last 10 minutes or so is Aleksejs Visnakovs and he will replace Kluskins, who has indeed been walking a bit of a discipline tightrope after being booked. In fact, he probably should have saw a second yellow as it was him who conceded the second Portugal penalty.
Minute
Description
76'
V. Gabovs gets yellow.
Gabovs goes into the book for Latvia.
75'
Fifteen minutes to go in the Algarve and this match really has became much more nervy than it should have for Portugal. With Switzerland riding high at the top of Group B, the hosts tonight cannot afford to drop anymore points, and especially against an opponent they should be defeating with gusto.
73'
Portugal have dominated this game for the majority, but this doesn't excuse the plethora of sloppy and misplaced passes which has peppered this performance from Santos' charges. If more care was took with possession, this game would have been finished long ago.
72'
Gelson Martins enters the game and replaces João Mário.
71'
Second change from Portugal and it sees Joao Mario leave the action to be replaced by exciting Sporting winger, Gelson Martins. The man coming on has talent in abundance and is blessed with some electric speed, so things don't get any easier for Latvia as Santos makes a positive alteration.
69'
William Carvalho has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Ricardo Quaresma.
Quaremsa does indeed have the quality, and it could prove vital as he records an assist for the second.
GOOOOAAAALLLL FOR PORTUGAL! A superb response from the hosts! Just as Latvia's confidence is flowing following their equaliser, William Carvalho saves the blushes of the home side by glancing home from a lovely Quaresma cross from the right wing! Two-one.
68'
GOOOOAAAAALLL! GOOOAAALLL FOR LATVIA! INCREDIBLE! A speculative cross is sent into the Portugal penalty box and a game of football pinball ensues with it bouncing about everywhere. Possession eventually drops nicely to substitute, Zjuzins, who smashes a quite fabulous attempt past Patricio into the right corner! One-one, what a story this could be!
67'
A. Zjuzins has scored a goal for Latvia!
Joao Mario advances forward from his position in midfield and eventually finds space down the left wing with plenty of targets inside the box. The Inter man spots the run of Ronaldo at the front post and clips a cross into this area, but Vanins reads it well and proactively comes off his line to make the claim out of the air.
65'
Ricardo Quaresma enters the game and replaces Nani.
Fernando Santos in turn makes his first substitution of the match. The man coming off is Nani and he will be replaced by Ricardo Quaresma, who certainly has the quality to unlock this Latvia defence in the latter stages, so lets see how he fairs down this right-hand side.
62'
Thirty minutes to go in the Algarve and the Portuguese crowd are starting to get a little unsettled at the lack of a second goal for their side, as with the scoreline remaining at 1-0 Latvia are always in with a fighting chance. The hosts just haven't showed a predatory instinct in front of goal.
60'
Pahars reacts immediately to that missed penalty from Ronaldo as he makes his opening change. Entering the action is Arturs Zjuzins and he will replace Davis Ikaunieks.
59'
A. Zjuzins enters the game and replaces D. Ikaunieks.
RONALDO MISSES THE PENALTY! The Portugal captain steps up with typical confidence but only succeeds in smashing an attempt off the inside of the post! With the fortunate first penalty that went in, that doesn't come as a TOTAL surprise! Neither were struck well by his standards.
58'
ANOTHER PENALTY TO PORTUGAL! This one certainly IS a spotkick as Andre Gomes looks destined to pull the trigger a yard inside the box, only to be tripped from behind as the retreating Kluskins makes the late tackle.
56'
Portugal try to claim another penalty on two occasions in quick succession. Ronaldo is involved in the first and Andre Silva in the second, but both were fairly pathetic attempts to con the referee, even if there was a slight hint of contact from the respective Latvia defenders.
54'
Andre Silva makes an intelligent run in behind the Latvia defence to collect possession near the corner flag on the right. The Porto man displays a cracking bit of skill to jink in between two challenges on his route into the penalty area, but there aren't any team-mates alert for his eventually chipped cross to the back post. Good play from the Portuguese striker.
52'
K. Gorkšs gets yellow.
Another booking now, and another deserved one for Latvia. The guilty party on this occasion is Gorkss to goes in slightly two-footed on Andre Silva just outside the centre circle.
50'
Ronaldo struggles to find space on the edge of the area to try and pull the trigger and so eventually opts to turn back and lay into the path of Joao Mario, who subsequently chips a delicate pass over the top of the Latvia defence. Guerreiro fluffs his volleyed attempt at goal, but it doesn't matter anyway as he is flagged as offside.
48'
The early stages of the second period have followed the same formula as the opening 45 minutes, and that is Portugal patiently looking to build up possession. Latvia can be proud of their contribution to the play so far and actually try to play with the ball on the deck at times, but you struggle to see where an equaliser is going to come from.
46'
We are back under way in this World Cup Qualifier!
44'
Well, Portugal manage to break into the opposition half with a quick counter-attack and it is Ronaldo who runs in behind the defence with only the goalkeeper to beat. However, the linesman incorrectly waves for offside even though the Madrid attacker was INSIDE his own half when the pass was made from Nani! Awful, awful decision.
42'
Fantastic block from Bruno Alves! Whilst on the floor, the Portuguese centre-back somehow manages to shuffle across and intercept a strike on goal from Rudnevs. A moment of hope for Latvia, but the hosts will be sweating over that missed chance!
40'
The game is just starting to get a little stretched in the minutes before the break which is fairly worrying for Latvia, who are allowing spaces to open up in behind. Nani, Ronaldo, and Andre Silva all have pace in abundance, so the visitors need to sort themselves out or run the risk of conceding before half-time.
38'
Ronaldo dazzles Freimanis down the left-hand side with a couple of speedy stepovers before clipping a teasing cross into the box which is cleared. Nani collects and eventually tees up Carvalho, but shooting has never been a strength of the Sporting man, as proved by his strike which bounces a few yards wide of the target.
36'
Thankfully, Andre Silva has returned to the action from the sidelines, but it will take him a little while to shake off the cobwebs from that altercations with Vanins. Meanwhile, Portugal move forward to try and break down the Latvia defence again.
34'
A small break in play at the moment as Andre Silva is currently down after taking a massive knock to the face from the Latvia goalkeeper as the duo contested an aerial ball inside the box. Unclear at the moment whether the Portuguese can continue as he took a hell of a whallop, but the physios are giving him some attention.
32'
Just under 15 minutes remaining in the first half and Portugal are looking comfortable out there now without really lighting up the place with their play going forward. Santos and his men actually won the Euros with only one win in 90 minutes, so no surprise that they continue to be pragmatic.
30'
Now that the deadlock has been broken by Portugal, they can now turn their attentions to tallying up more goals, which they have been doing in recent matches to be fair. Ronaldo, in particular, is basically shooting on-sight now.
28'
Penalty goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal!
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL FOR PORTUGAL! Ronaldo is the man tasked with the penalty and he steps up to smash an attempt into the bottom corner just under the despairing hand of Vanins. Not the best penalty from the Portugal captain, but they all count! One-nil.
26'
PENALTY TO PORTUGAL! The hosts have a great chance to open the scoring now as a one-two between Ronaldo and Nani sees the latter scythed down inside the box by the desperate challenge of Freimanis.
25'
V. Maksimenko gets yellow.
Another booking for Latvia here, and the guilty party on this occasion is Maksimenko for a challenge on the overlapping Cancelo on the right flank.
24'
Vanins is certainly getting his gloves tested so far tonight, but unfortunately for Portugal most of the attempts have been outside the box. The Latvia goalkeeper is acquitting himself admirably between the sticks, but he hasn't been tested with any chances in his penalty area...yet.
22'
The ball is speculatively thrown into the Latvia box and the visitors struggle to clear with a few headers. The latest, which goes out of the penalty area, drops fortuitously to Nani but the subsequent attempted half-volley on goal is skewed horribly wide from the Valencia winger. Poor.
20'
Nani looks to get involved in the action positively down the right-hand side now after receiving the ball from the onrushing Cancelo. The former Manchester United man finds enough space to fizz a pass into the feet of Joao Mario, but before he can set up Gomes for the attempt, Latvia manage to smuggle possession clear of danger.
18'
Ronaldo collects the ball to feet down the left-hand side and typically cuts into space on his right foot, going beyond a couple of tackles as he goes. The Real Madrid star cracks an attempt at goal which ominously dips under the bar, but Vanins reads it well and makes the comfortable save between the sticks.
16'
André Gomes gets yellow.
Well there is certainly an alement of revenge about this one as Gomes now takes out Kluskins for the booking. Nowhere near as bad as the previous tackle, though.
14'
G. Kļuškins gets yellow.
Kluskins is the first player to go into the book now and it is for a challenge on Gomes. The Latvian is VERY lucky here as that looked an absolute shocker of a tackle, only for the referee to brandish the yellow instead of red.
13'
Andre Gomes is awarded too much space in the middle of the park and takes advantage to move forward before pulling the trigger with a strike on goal. However, the attempt is disappointing from the Barcelona man, and ends up weakly going beyond the left-hand post.
11'
After that promising bit of play from Latvia which will no doubt have given Portugal a scare, Santos's charges have managed to reclaim the ascendancy going forward in the final third. Certainly cause for optimism for the visitors though, who at the very least now know they can cause problems from set-pieces.
9'
SAVE FROM PATRICIO! After a great bit of work down the right wing from Kluskins to win a corner, he picks himself up to take the resulting set-piece which is swung wickedly to the front post. The header comes from Tarasovs which very nearly catches the Portugal keeper off-guard, but the hosts eventually survive.
7'
Vanins is called into action for the first time in the match as Joao Mario latches on to possession around 30 yards out down the left channel before lashing a low strike towards the bottom corner. It proves to be fairly routine for the Latvia stopper, though, who remains solid to make the save.
5'
Latvia should probably be fearful slightly at the moment as judging from the early stages, Ronaldo looks up for this one, and why wouldn't he be as there is a great chance tonight to notch up some more goals for his country. If the Selecao can get the opener relatively quickly, they can think about tallying up the scoreline.
3'
As expected, Portugal are looking to stamp their authority on proceedings early doors in terms of possession. Also expected is some Latvia tackles to leave a little something on the opponent off the ball, and we have already witnessed this against Nani and Ronaldo.
1'
We are under way in this World Cup Qualifier!
Latvia were never expected to make much of an impact in Group B and unfortunately for the visitors tonight, this has proved to be the case. Marian Pahars and his players have notched up one win out of three so far, which came against group minnows, Andorra, while they have suffered the ignominy of a defeat to the Faroe Islands.
The Selecao have claimed six points out of a possible nine so far, but the victory dropped could prove to be fairly damaging as it was away to their main rivals to win the group, Switzerland. Even if they claim all three points with their game in hand tonight, which they should do, they would still be three behind Vladimir Petkovic's outfit.
During the summer at the European Championships, Portugal sent shockwaves through the continent when they overcame hosts, France, in the final of the competition to be crowned champions, even with the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the last match early due to an injury. The exploits of Fernando Santos' charges meant they went into World Cup Qualifying as massive favourites to top Group B, but everything has not gone totally to plan as of yet.
Good evening football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the 2018 World Cup Qualifying Group B encounter between Portugal and Latvia from Estadio Do Algarve.
TEAM NEWS...
Portugal (4-3-3): Patricio; Cancelo, Fonte, Bruno Alves, Guerreiro; William Carvalho, Andre Gomes, Joao Mario; Nani, Ronaldo, Andre Silva.
The last time Portugal faced Latvia in competitive action was over 10 years ago in the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. On that occasion in Porto, a goal from Hugo Viana and a double from Pauleta sealed the win for the Portuguese.
The National Anthems get under way!
Half-time in the Algarve. Portugal are on course to claim all three points in this Group B Qualifier as they go into the break with a 1-0 lead over Latvia, with Ronaldo breaking the deadlock with a penalty-kick. The hosts will be wanting to rack up some more goals after the break, but Latvia have certainly proved a threat, too.
Full time in this Group B encounter. Portugal go up to second in the standings after recording an eventually comfortable 4-1 win at home to Latvia, with Ronaldo grabbing two, and hitting the post twice, and Bruno Alves and William Carvalho recording a goal a-piece too. Latvia can e content with their performance, but the gulf in class eventually became prominent. Thanks for joining us, see you next time.
Commentary
More…