Portugal finished their World Cup preparations on a high with a thumping 5-1 win over Republic of Ireland on Wednesday morning in New Jersey.
In the first half, a brace from Hugo Almeida and an unfortunate Richard Keogh own goal sent them into the break cruising, but Ireland had hope not long after the restart with a James McClean effort.
As Ireland went for it they were undone twice on the break by Vieirinha and Fabio Coentrao as Portugal's dominance was rewarded with a fine win ahead of the start of the World Cup.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello football fans. We have Portugal's final warm-up game ahead of the World Cup for you tonight, as they take on Ireland at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Will we see Cristiano Ronaldo return tonight? His side, with one goal in two games, could certainly do with him.
Kickoff is just under 15 minutes away, so without further ado let's have a look at the team news.
IRELAND XI: Forde, Kelly, Keogh, Pearce, Ward; Hendrick, Meyler; McGeady, Hoolahan, McClean; Walters
PORTUGAL XI: Rui Patricio; Amorim, Costa, Neto, Coentrao; Carvalho, Meireles, Moutinho; Varela, Almeida, Ronaldo
So as you can see, Cristiano Ronaldo is deemed fit enough to start. His mere presence will worry what looks to be quite a shaky Irish defence, and if he doesn't score he should at least cause big problems. There is also a return to the lineup for Raul Meireles, who too has recovered from injury, while Pepe makes the bench.
For Ireland, Jon Walters has recovered from the virus he suffered to start and even captains the side tonight. The link-up between Aiden McGeady, Wes Hoolahan, and James McClean will be interesting, especially looking at their attacking counterparts at the other end of the pitch.
So almost time for kickoff, and time for a prediction. Portugal should have enough about them today to improve on recent results, but I can't see a hammering. I think 2-0 seems a reasonable shout, with possibly 3-0 if Ronaldo fancies it.
A look at the odds suggests that Portugal should win, but at around 1/2 it's by no means certain. Ireland, if you fancy the upset, can be backed at 13/2.
After his side's narrow win against Mexico last time out, Portugal boss Paulo Bento said: "We still have a few mistakes that we need to correct before the World Cup." This is his side's final chance...
There is a slight delay before kickoff. I'm not entirely sure why, but it does tend to be the case in America that kickoff times are taken as an estimate. I assume we'll now be set for a 1am kickoff.
Ireland, of course, have not qualified for the World Cup, so for their players this is a final game before a summer holiday. They will want to spoil Ronaldo and company's party, though, and they are always well drilled.
National anthem time, now. Portugal's players and fans alike are belting out theirs. Just a couple of minutes away from kickoff, then, and a warning for Ireland Ronaldo looks focused.
KICKOFF: Here we go then, somewhat behind schedule. Portugal get things underway - this should be good.
The crowd come into action the first time Ronaldo gets sight of the ball. He lights up as he hears the adoration and shoots from some 30 yards, but it was a bobbler and comfortable for Forde.
GOAL! Ireland 0-1 Portugal (Hugo Almeida)
He may not be the most prolific of strikers, but that's the sort of service that Almeida thrives on. Varela breaks down the right and puts it right on the head of the forward, who nods low and in for an early lead.
What a waste from McGeady! Ireland have a really good chance to break as Varela gives the ball away, but McGeady picks out Coentrao with his pass instead of Hoolahan who wanted it.
Not a bad effort there from McGeady. There was some neat one-touch passing in the Portugal third, and the attacking midfielder strikes a shot a few yards wide from the edge of the box. Rui Patricio wasn't really worried.
Since the goal Ireland have responded well. They have seen a fair bit of the ball, but apart from the McGeady shot have not had too much of a sight of goal. They're pressing the Portuguese now, which did not happen during the frantic opening two minutes.
That is an absolute shocker of a tackle from Neto on McClean. The Irishman got in a cross, but Neto flew in on him, with the Portuguese staying down. McClean, to his credit, did not make much of a fuss, despite a limp now, and that's probably gone in Neto's favour.
It's Ronaldo's turn to hit the deck, but there was nothing really in that from Meyler, who won the ball. Ronaldo probably feared an injury, rather than getting one.
SAVES! Two good stops there from Forde, the second in particular. Ronaldo's shot from outside the box is pushed up and away, but Varela cuts back to Meireles, whose shot is pushed wide by the Ireland stopper. From Moutinho's corner, Almeida turns it on to the roof of the net. They're certainly motivated.
Moutinho is a really tidy player in the pockets in midfield. He's the difference in there at the moment, with short, sharp passes and plenty of movement. He's always looking for the attacking ball, but happy to pass sideways if need be.
Ronaldo is tugged back at the end of a fine passing move by McClean. Not a great deal in it, perhaps, but this is the territory for a free kick... 25 yards out slightly to the right.
OFF THE POST! It was very nearly a trademark free kick from Ronaldo. He got it just over the wall and it dipped towards the bottom corner, but went back across the face of the goal via the upright. A really good effort, but not quite.
GOAL! Ireland 0-2 Portugal (Coentrao)
This might well go down as an own goal from Keogh, and in fact it most definitely will. There was absolutely brilliant build-up with Coentrao playing a one-two thanks to a Ronaldo back-heel, and it was the left-back's attempted cross that flicked Keogh and looped over Forde. Coentrao barely claimed it, in fairness, a definite own goal.
Walters called just offside there as McGeady tries to find him in the box. It was a clever pass, but Walters was just a yard off. There has been some good interplay from Ireland, but nothing has yet let to a real chance.
First real sign there of Walters's strength. He's second favourite to a ball flicked on by McGeady, but holds it and almost releases his teammate on the overlap. In the end Portugal defend well and win possession back.
That will go down as a chance for Ronaldo. The captain beat the offside trap to get on to Varela's clipped through ball, but could not control it. On replay, he was slightly offside for me, but no harm done as he controlled poorly.
McGeady is happy to shoot from anywhere, and this time he wins his side their first corner. Neto blocks the shot behind, but from his own delivery the cross only picks out Rui Patricio.
Ireland have a good chance to work something on the break, but McClean is guilty of trying a bit too much to the right of the box and his cross-shot flies harmlessly wide in the end.
Portugal have had spells in which they haven't dominated, but they have really been on top throughout the first 35 minutes. Ireland, as I thought they might, look shaky at the back and look like being undone by the right pass.
Ireland 0-3 Portugal (Hugo Almeida)
This is in real danger of becoming a cricket score now. It's a fantastic cross from Varela again, but a combination of slack marking on Ronaldo and poor goalkeeping sees Ireland concede. Forde should have held Ronaldo's initial header, but spilled it out and Almeida fired in the rebound. It's game over, but there could be plenty more goals.
Chance at the other end as, after a bit of build-up the ball is played left to Ward. His cross is met by McClean, but it seemed as though he was on the way back down as he met it and it skids across the box and well away from goal.
HALF-TIME: Ireland 0-3 Portugal
Ireland have just been unable to really cause any problems at either end of the pitch. They are yet to work Rui Patricio into any sort of meaningful action, despite some decent passing, and have looked no match at the back.
The defence has, frankly, been a shambles. Varela has an immense amount of crossing ability, but still the men in green have left far too many open headers in that first half.
Portugal are far too strong going forward, and that does bode well for what is an interesting group for them. They will need to break down the likes of Ghana and USA, so this is good practice for them. Varela has been the best player so far, while Moutinho has been excellent linking the team together.
The Ireland players are heading back out on to the pitch now, so we won't be long until we're back underway. Here come Portugal, led by Ronaldo.
KICKOFF: Here we go then. Ireland get things back underway for the second half.
McClean's delivery has been appalling so far, and he's just given another example. He linked up nicely with Kelly down the right, but drilled his cross out of play on the far side with just one bounce.
Portugal haven't got going in this half yet, but they begin to make progress with a couple of fouls on Ronaldo and Varela respectively, but both come to nothing.
Really nice work from Hoolahan, who gets the better of Meireles and is then brought down by his man. There's some very tidy stuff in the middle for Ireland, but it always breaks down as they look to turn it into a chance.
GOAL! Ireland 1-3 Portugal (McClean)
That could be the worst bit of defending in the match. From a free kick around 35 yards out, the Portuguese are all standing in the middle area of the pitch, which allows McClean acres down the right hand side to get into the box, cut in and score left-footed. It's a well-worked quick free kick, but someone needs to lead that Portugal defence. Are Ireland back in this?
The crowd are baying for a Ronaldo screaming free kick, but the wait for that and his 50th Portugal goal must continue as he drills his latest effort into the knees of the wall.
BOOKING: The referee has had enough of McClean's late attempts to get back and finally gives him a yellow card after a foul on Ronaldo 25 yards out.
SAVE! This time he goes around the wall, but there's not enough swerve in the air and Forde can get the ball away with a strong two hands.
Magical footwork initially by Varela, who controls on half way with a spin and then sets Ronaldo away using the outside of his boot. However, when it's fizzed back to him the winger cannot gather it and his miscontrol allows Forde to gather the loose ball. This is getting really end-to-end.
Brave defending there from Ward, who came across to track the run of Varela to put it out for a corner from Ronaldo's pass. He lands awkwardly on his shoulder and is now getting treatment.
IRELAND SUBS: Couple of changes from O'Neill, as Shane Long comes on for Walters, with Robbie Keane also making an appearance for Ward.
A swathe of Portugal chances also, as Pepe, Almeida, Nani and Postiga all come on. I think it may have been Hoolahan who Keane came on for a few moments ago.
Anthony Pilkington is the man who replaces Ward, with Quinn also on the field now in place of McClean.
Good counter from Ireland there, as Keane pings the ball left to McGeady, who waits for the cross and just about finds Pilkington at the far post. However, the header is off target and the chance has gone. I thought McGeady could have crossed low with his left foot instead of cut back onto his right, which made Pilkington and Long check their runs.
PORTUGAL SUB: On comes Vieirinha for Varela, who has probably been the best player on the pitch tonight.
IRELAND SUBS: Nothing really happening on the pitch as we get to the point of the game where it gets hampered by changes. Two more strikers are on for Ireland - Simon Cox and Kevin Doyle, to replace Kelly and McGeady. That's four on the field now - can the changes bring two goals?
GOAL! Ireland 1-4 Portugal (Vieirinha)
What a touch that is from Nani! He's sent away with a 40-yard angled pass, takes it in his stride and crosses from the left for Vierinha. The winger's header is initially saved, but there's nothing Forde can do about the rebound. A really good goal.
Another Portuguese change then, as Amorim comes off for Miguel Veloso.
GOAL! Ireland 1-5 Portugal (Coentrao)
Portugal are tearing this up on the counter! Nani again brings down a raked pass and drives goalwards. Coentrao, one of the few players to have started and still be on the field, busts a gut to get into the box, and Nani times the outside of the boot pass perfectly into him for a really neat placed finish. This is fantastic to watch from Portugal.
Ireland, of course, are hardly top-level opposition, but you have to fancy Portugal in their group on today's evidence. They looked like winning from the word go and haven't looked back since taking the lead inside the second minute.
GOAL! Ireland 1-6 Portugal (Nani)
DISALLOWED!
Nani has the ball in the net, but he had just edged offside as he flicked the ball into the bottom corner with his heel. He's not happy, but it's the right decision.
FULL-TIME: Ireland 1-5 Portugal
So Portugal are suddenly looking in decent shape ahead of the World Cup with their main man back in the fold. Thanks for joining me this morning and please do stick around for much more football over the coming weeks. Something to do with the greatest show on earth? Until then, it's goodbye!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
