Ireland U21s go down to Portugal

Portugal U-21 2 Republic of Ireland U-21 0

The striker opened the scoring after 16 minutes when he headed home a cross from winger Ricardo Quaresma, who twisted and turned his way past Michael Timlin on the right flank.

Their second arrived just after the half-hour mark in controversial circumstances when Quaresma's lofted pass put the offside Almeida through and he made no mistake from close range.

Television replays proved Almeida was offside, though it was of little comfort to Ireland who, despite a better second-half display, were unable to create chances.

IRELAND U-21's: Henderson (Notts Co); Foley (Luton), Kelly (Spurs), Fitzgerald (Bury), Timlin (Fulham); Whelan (Sheffield Wed), Potter (Liverpool), Thornton (Sunderland); Flood (Man City), Quigley (Millwall), Yeates (Spurs). Subs: Deeney (Notts Co) for Henderson, McAlliskey (Huddersfield) for Yeates, O'Brien (Sheffield Wed) for Whelan, Bell (Rush & D) for Potter.

Last night's results: Friendly: Cyprus 1 Austria 1; Latvia 1 Finland 2.

UEFA Championship Qualifying Group Six: Wales U-21s 0 Germany U-21 4

Friendlies: England U-21 1 Holland U-21 2, N. Ireland U-21 2 Scotland U-21 1.

Coca Cola League One: Blackpool 2 Oldham 0, Bradford 1 MK Dons 4.

League Two: Bury 0 Shrewsbury 0, Mansfield 1 Swansea 0.