Brian Kerr's Republic of Ireland under-16s never recovered from an early unforced error from Blackburn Rovers' Anthony Martin as Portugal did enough to seal their win in the opening Group A match at Beer Sheva yesterday morning.
The heartbroken Irish left-back's moment of misadventure came on 15 minutes when his thoughtless cross-field ball was intercepted by Portuguese striker Silvio, who flicked the ball past Stephen Kelly before shooting past Wayne Henderson in the Irish goal.
The Irish jitters had been present from the start and Henderson had already made a terrific save to keep out a shot from Paiva after Irish captain Patrick McCarthy was caught out of position from Hugo Viana's ball over the top.
It was scarcely the start Ireland wanted in the 25 degree heat of late morning, but, admirably, they settled and should have gone in level at the break. Portugal failed to defend a corner from Liam Kearney and McCarthy arrived at the back post to head over an open goal.
Ireland maintained their momentum into the second-half and central defender Stephen Kelly got forward to volley into the sidenetting from a Kearney cross, while Bruno Vale made a marvellous one-handed save on a low drive from Sean Thornton.
There could have been a happier ending for Ireland two minutes into stoppage time. But Kearney, who Kerr felt was his best player on the day, elected not to pass to the better-placed Leonard Walker before his shot was blocked by a defender.
"We gave away a very soft goal, a bad error, a bad mistake," said a not too dejected Kerr afterwards. "Portugal played as we expected. We had some chances, they had some chances. Obviously we're disappointed, but we still think we are in with a chance of qualifying."
A win over Russia, who came from two goals down to beat England in yesterday's other group A game, tomorrow morning is now imperative if Ireland are to challenge for one of the two quarterfinal places available.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Henderson (Aston Villa); Rossiter (Sunderland), Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), McCarthy (Manchester City), Martin (Blackburn Rovers); Thornton (Tranmere Rovers), Capper (Sunderland), Fahey (Aston Villa); Brennan (Newcastle United), Walker (Leeds United), Kearney (Nottingham Forest). Subs: Dillon (Aston Villa) for Martin (half-time), McMahon (West Ham) for Fahey (74 mins).
PORTUGAL: Bruno Vale; Carlos Marques, Pedro Ribeiro, Batista, Custodio, Raul, Hugo Viana, Valdir, Quaresma, Paiva, Silvio. Subs: Daniel for Hugo Viana (47 mins), Mario Carlos for Silvio (76 mins). Referee: H Fleischer (Germany).
FOUR NATION TOURNAMENT (in Slovakia): Israel U-17 3 Ireland U-17 1 (B Cash, Nottm Forest).
Ireland play Turkey today.
