Late goal keeps Portuguese hopes alive
Portugal needed an injury-time
goal from defender Bruno Alves to beat Albania 2-1 in a World
Cup qualifier on Saturday and keep alive their hopes of reaching
next year's tournament in South Africa.
Portugal are third in Group One with nine points, behind
leaders Denmark on 16 and Hungary with 13 and their last-gasp
win in Albania must be followed by victories in their three
remaining matches for them to top the standings.
The group winners qualify for the finals while the best
eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a playoff.
Portugal had taken the lead with a Hugo Almeida header in
the 27th minute after Jose Bosingwa surged forward to supply the
cross. Albania equalised just two minutes later when striker
Bogdani beat Bruno Alves in the air to head in Skela's cross.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz replaced ineffective
midfielder Luis Boa Morte with Simao Sabrosa at halftime and
Portugal created more chances in the second half.
But poor finishing meant they had to wait until the 93rd
minute for Bruno Alves to grab the priceless winner.