Late Miguel Veloso strike downs Albania

Miguel Veloso scored a stoppage-time winner as Portugal moved three points clear at the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group by beating Albania 1-0 in Elbasan this evening.

Cristiano Ronaldo had the first chance of the match for the visitors when he fired a low drive towards the bottom corner that was pushed behind by Etrit Berisha.

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From the resulting corner, Nani arrived to meet Danilo Pereira's flick, but he could only turn his strike against the post.

Ronaldo was proving to be Portugal's biggest threat and he tested Berisha once again with a strike that the keeper palmed away for a corner.

Bernardo Silva almost opened the scoring for the visitors minutes before the break, but his effort flashed inches wide of the far post.

Albania made a bright start to the second half and Sokol Cikalleshi curled a shot into the hands of Rui Patricio, before the striker saw a header deflect narrowly wide.

At the other end of the pitch, it was Portugal who came close to scoring, as Danny headed a cross from Cedric Soares wide of the target.

Cikalleshi then came within inches of breaking the deadlock for the hosts, when his long-range strike came crashing back off the post.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes Eliseu had the chance to give Portugal the lead as he broke through on goal and chipped an effort past the keeper, but the ball dropped inches wide of the post.

The game looked set to end in a goalless draw, but in the second minute of added time Veloso powered in a header from Ricardo Quaresma's corner to seal the win for Portugal.