Republic U21s lose to Portuguese counterparts

Portugal Under-21 1 Republic of Ireland Under-21 0

The Republic of Ireland’s Under-21 side saw their unbeaten record in the Madeira Invitational Tournament end today with a 1-0 defeat by Portugal in Machico.

This is the first time the Republic have lost a game in three visits to the island nation – they won the competition in 2004 and were also victorious last year.

But Don Givens’ side were undone on an extremely hot day against a Portuguese side preparing for the World Youth Championships in Canada this summer.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Celestino decided the game in the 39th minute with a strike which flew into the top corner from 30 yards out.

Ireland goalkeeper James Russell was powerless to keep that blast out but he was not overly tested for the rest of the game.

Portugal should have taken the lead in the 26th minute when Russell parried a header by Feliciano Condesso and skipper Paulo Renato hit the crossbar from the rebound.

Millwall striker Ross Gaynor looked to have won a penalty for the Republic in the 61st minute when he was taken down by Mano as he prepared to shoot – but his appeal was rejected.

MK Dons defender Kieran Murphy, who scored the winner against Slovakia on Tuesday, headed just over from a right wing cross by James Simmonds in the 67th minute.

With five minutes left on the clock, substitute David Bracken was also denied a penalty after he cut inside Nuno Coelho and appeared to be impeded.

Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio made a string of important catches from Ireland crosses in the dying minutes to keep his third clean sheet of the week.

The Republic will next meet Holland in a friendly clash in Venlo on March 27.

Unlike the Madeira competition, when players had to be born in 1987 or younger, that Dutch game will be for players born after January 1, 1984.

The Dutch are preparing for the UEFA Under-21 Championships that they will be hosting this summer so Givens is likely to completely change his squad for that fixture.