DUBLIN -- Luis Figo headed a 79th minute
equaliser to earn Portugal a 1-1 draw with Ireland in their
World Cup group two qualifier on Saturday.
A passionate home crowd thought captain Roy Keane had won
the game for Ireland in the 62nd minute, when the captain
wriggled clear in the penalty box and poked the ball past
goalkeeper Ricardo Pureira.
But after Figo levelled, Portugal, who had totally dominated
the first half, finished the stronger without finding a way
through.
Ireland remain top of the group with 15 points from six
games. Portugal go second on 12 from five with the Netherlands,
who play at Estonia later, third on 11 from six.
Netherlands squeak out win with late goals
TALLINN -- Two goals in the last minute
secured a priceless 4-2 win for the Netherlands over Estonia in
a World Cup European group two qualifier on Saturday.
Estonia thought they had got at least a point until Patrick
Kluivert headed a third Dutch goal in the 90th minute and Ruud
van Nistelrooy immediately added a fourth from close range.
The Netherlands had earlier been helped by Estonia's Raio
Piiroja who headed into his own net on 70 minutes as he tried to
clear a long-distance shot from Frank de Boer.
Andres Oper had put Estonia in front on 65 minutes and
Indrek Zelinski had restored their lead on 78 minutes before van
Nistlerooy equalised and followed Kluivert with the fourth.
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