Heroics from Shay Given in goal helped Ireland carve out a goalless draw against a lively Albania in this Euro 2004 Group Ten qualifer in Tirana this evening.
The result, following on from Ireland's 2-1 win against Georgia at the weekend, left coach Brian Kerr's side with an uphill struggle to make it to Portugal next summer having lost their opening two qualifiers under Mick McCarthy.
Ireland thought they'd found an elusive winner when Gary Breen headed in after 85th minutes - but Italian referee Stefano Farina disallowed it, the defender being correctly ruled offside after running onto a Gary Doherty flick on.
The result leaves Ireland lying fourth with four points from four games, four behind Switzerland, who drew 0-0 in Georgia, and two behind Russia who have a game in hand.
Albania are third with five points.
After the Georgia win Kerr's men were looking for more maximum points but with Albania proving their earlier win over Russia was no fluke the visitors had a superb Given to thank for a share of the spoils.
The Newcastle United stopper produced a series of top class saves to at least keep Ireland still in the hunt for Portugal.
Gary Doherty, who got a header in Tbilisi, was left on the bench to make way for Robbie Keane, who missed that game following the death of his father.
The Spurs striker was paired with Damien Duff up front but this potent strike force took a back seat in the initial stages as Given came under instant pressure from the Albanian attack.
Among his early heroics was a blocked five-metre shot from Edvin Murati and a diving save to keep out Altin Rraklli's 11th minute header.
Ireland had fewer chances than Albania all night, their best effort in the first half coming from Duff, his piercing 25-metre shot producing a great save from captain Fotaq Strakosha.
Albania though could consider themselves unlucky not to have got off the mark just before the break when Rraklli beat the Irish defence but his shot went high.
If Kerr's men hoped the Albanian storm might abate after the break they were sorely mistaken with Klodian Duro picking out Igli Tare in the 51st minute only for his shot to be punched into safety by Ireland's saving grace, Given.
As in the first half Ireland were patient in building up their moves only to find the Albanian defence holding firm, as in the 54th minute when Duff charged forward only for his cross to Keane to fall to the opposition.
Ervin Skela then set up Igli Tare, who was waiting on the right post, but his shot was slipped to safety by Irish defender Stephen Carr.
That was followed by a 25-metre strike from Rraklli from the right which Given smartly tipped over the crossbar.
Kerr brought on Doherty for Keane, who was not firing on all cylinders, with half an hour remaining - but it was Given who again saved the day for the visitors when his outstretched hand beat Tare to a probing cross into the box with ten minutes left.