Cyprus 1 Portugal 3
Portugal tonight reduced the odds of the Republic of Ireland earning automatic qualification for next year's World Cup while killing off Holland's lingering chance of reaching the finals from Group Two.
The Dutch needed Cyprus to do the improbable and beat the mighty Portuguese but Nuno Gomes and co emerged 3-1 winners.
However, at half-time the Cypriots were leading through Michalis Constantinou and it took second-half goals from Gomes, Pauleta and Sergio Conceicao to calm Portuguese nerves and induce Dutch misery.
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Victory for the Portugeuse against Estonia on October 6 will condemn the Republic of Ireland to a play-off against a qualifier from Asia.
-AFP