Ronaldo's Portugal Held in Ulster

Assist for Ronaldo
By Chris O'Brien
November 18 2005

Winger Cristiano Ronaldo was in action as Portugal were held by a determined Northern Ireland side in Belfast. United's teenage sensation played 69 minutes as the Ulstermen frustrated their more illustrious Portuguese opponents.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo was in action as a plucky Northern Ireland put on a stubborn display to hold European giants Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Belfast. It was his second international appearance in four days after the winger helped the Portuguese to a 2-0 win over Croatia on the weekend.

The teenager started at Windsor Park against the wishes of Sir Alex Ferguson, playing just under 70 minutes before being replaced by Helder Postiga. He looked lively on the right and played a leading role in the opening goal, sending in the cross that Motherwell's Stephen Craigan diverted past his own 'keeper.

Lawrie Sanchez's Ulstermen bravely fought on and they deservedly levelled minutes after the interval. Back-to-back World Cup qualifying defeats against Wales and Austria had dampened the euphoria surrounding Northern Ireland's famous win over England, but Warren Feeney's impressive header went someway to recapturing the mood of ecstasy across the province.

Full Time - Northern Ireland 1-1 Portugal

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Gillespie (Shiels 86), Murdock, Craigan, Capaldi, Jones (McAuley 45), Davis, Brunt, Elliott (McCann 45), Quinn (Thompson 77), Feeney (Sproule 86).

Portugal: Paulo Santos, Paulo Ferreira, Costinha (Alves 67), Petit, Pauleta (Nuno Gomes 46), Ricardo Carvalho, Ronaldo (Postiga 69), Tiago (Frechaut 76), Boa Morte (Caneira 62), Meira, Jorge Ribeiro.